Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

Abstract: A snap type rodent trap with remote notification capability is provided. The trap includes a non-conductive base, conductive bail and trigger components, and an electronic PCB assembly mounted on the trap base. According to a first embodiment, the base is wood and the PCB assembly is selectively coated or printed with a layer of a flexible conductive material that contacts bail and trigger wire components mounted on the upper surface of the trap base as well as a conductive strip positioned to be contacted by the bail when the trap is tripped and empty. According to a second embodiment, the base is molded plastic. The PCB assembly in both embodiments is configured to detect and provide remote notification of trap states using the bail as an antenna. A method of retrofitting a snap type trap with an electronics monitoring system is also provided.

Abstract: An elastomeric feed port and a bird feeder having a seed reservoir with a seed opening fitted with such an elastomeric feed port is provided. The feed port has an elastomeric seed control membrane with a cutout that forms at least one aperture through which birds can access seed in the reservoir. The cutout is shaped to create flexible flaps or fingers adjacent the aperture in the membrane that partially cover the seed opening to reduce seed spillage but that can be pushed aside or temporarily deformed by a bird when the bird inserts its beak into the cutout aperture to access seed therethrough.

Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

Abstract: An elastomeric feed port and a bird feeder having a seed reservoir with a seed opening fitted with such an elastomeric feed port is provided. The feed port has an elastomeric seed control membrane with a cutout that forms at least one aperture through which birds can access seed in the reservoir. The cutout is shaped to create flexible flaps or fingers adjacent the aperture in the membrane that partially cover the seed opening to reduce seed spillage but that can be pushed aside or temporarily deformed by a bird when the bird inserts its beak into the cutout aperture to access seed therethrough.

Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

Abstract: An ant moat for use with a hummingbird feeder and an ant-resistant hummingbird assembly are provided. The ant moat includes a reservoir body having a base and at least one sidewall that together define a cup or container having a fluid holding region with an open top. The sidewall of the reservoir body includes a water level indicator and an oil level indicator that is positioned above the water level indicator. In use, water is added to the reservoir body up to the water level indicator, and then a layer of oil is added, on top of the water, up to the oil level indicator. The oil acts to prevent the water from evaporating which extends the time period over which the moat can effectively prevent ants from reaching the nectar access apertures in the hummingbird feeder.

Abstract: A mount for an energizer includes a base body, a pivot element attachable to the energizer, and a pivot assembly connecting the pivot element to the base body. The pivot assembly is movable between a first position and a second position in which the pivot assembly is biased toward the first position. The pivot element is held at a fixed pivot angle by the base body with the pivot assembly in the first position. The pivot element is pivotable with respect to the base body with the pivot assembly in the second position.

Abstract: A hummingbird feeder is provided that includes a nectar container removably coupled to a feeding basin having at least one feed port therein and a flower assembly fitted within the feed port. The flower assembly includes a flower body and a mounting member fitted in the center of the flower body, the mounting member having an elongated tapered passageway through which hummingbirds can access nectar in the feeding basin. The mounting member also has a semi-conical exterior geometry that facilitates mounting of the flower assembly within the feed port.

Abstract: A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container removably coupled to a feeding basin, the nectar container including a top opening closed by a cap. The cap has a sealing member configured to have an interference press fit with the top opening of the nectar container. The sealing member includes at least one void to allow air passage so that liquid can flow from the nectar container into the feeding basin when the feeder is in use.

Abstract: A hummingbird feeder is provided that includes a nectar container removably coupled to a feeding basin having at least one feed port opening therein and a feed port assembly fitted within the feed port opening. The feed port assembly includes an elastomeric feed port and a feed port accessory. The elastomeric feed port is preferably one molded piece including an ornamentally-shaped head having a diameter greater than the feed port opening and a plug sized to fit snugly within the opening. The outer surface of the plug has at least two ribs longitudinally spaced from one another to enable the feed port to be secured to the basin in at least two different positions including an intermediate position in which the feed port accessory is mounted on the plug and secured between the head and the upper surface of the basin adjacent the feed port opening.

Abstract: A reuseable glue board tray to be fitted with a glue board to form a glue board trap for rodent and other pests, and a glue trap having a reusable glue board tray with refillable glue boards, are provided. The side walls of the tray have a slanted lip sloped at an angle of preferably about 45° to the horizontal with the low side of the slope being on the outside edge of the tray to encourage pest interaction with the glue board by eliminating barriers between the glue board and the surface on which the tray rests. In addition, at least one of the side walls does not have a lip to facilitate replacement of the glue board through the lipless side while further facilitating easy entry of pests. Finger access cutouts are provided in the side walls of the tray that allow the user to lift the tray without touching the glue board, and two opposing sides of the tray have inwardly extending tabs that lap over the adjacent outer edges of the glue board to prevent the board from falling out of the tray unintentionally.

Abstract: An Oriole bird feeder having a nectar reservoir with a base and a tapered port, and preferably a tapered port/perch assembly, is provided. The bird feeder allows Orioles and other similarly sized members of the Icterid family of birds to land on the perch and access the nectar in the reservoir base while, due to the diminishing taper of the opening in the tapered port, simultaneously preventing average sized Italian, Carniolan and Caucasian honey bees from entering the reservoir base through the port to obtain the nectar where they subsequently become trapped and perish.

Abstract: An elastomeric feed port and a bird feeder having a seed reservoir with a seed opening fitted with such an elastomeric feed port is provided. The feed port has an elastomeric seed control membrane with a cutout that forms at least one aperture through which birds can access seed in the reservoir. The cutout is shaped to create flexible flaps or fingers adjacent the aperture in the membrane that partially cover the seed opening to reduce seed spillage but that can be pushed aside or temporarily deformed by a bird when the bird inserts its beak into the cutout aperture to access seed therethrough.

Abstract: A hummingbird feeder is provided that includes a nectar container removably coupled to a feeding basin having at least one feed port opening therein and a feed port assembly fitted within the feed port opening. The feed port assembly includes an elastomeric feed port and a feed port accessory. The elastomeric feed port is preferably one molded piece including an ornamentally-shaped head having a diameter greater than the feed port opening and a plug sized to fit snugly within the opening. The outer surface of the plug has at least two ribs longitudinally spaced from one another to enable the feed port to be secured to the basin in at least two different positions including an intermediate position in which the feed port accessory is mounted on the plug and secured between the head and the upper surface of the basin adjacent the feed port opening.