hummingbird nectar
Hummingbirds eat a variety of different things,
but the food they are most attracted to in many
birders backyards is the basic hummingbird nectar recipe.
This recipe simulates the natural sucrose content
of nectar producing flowers and offers the birds
a healthy source of energy and
calories.
Classic Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
To make hummingbird nectar
list of 3 items
1. Combine one part white sugar and four parts water.
2. Heat the solution for 1-2 minutes to help the
sugar dissolve and slow fermentation.
3. Allow the solution to cool completely before filling feeders.
list end
Nectar Recipe Tips
list of 8 items
If your tap water contains heavy chemicals,
consider using bottled or purified water for
purer nectar. You can also boil the water before adding the sugar
to help purify it.
Do not use honey, brown sugar, molasses or
artificial sugar substitutes for any hummingbird
nectar recipe. Honey and molasses (brown sugar contains molasses
products) are too heavy for hummingbirds to
digest efficiently and can ferment more quickly,
creating a mold that is fatal to hummingbirds. Sugar substitutes
do not have the caloric energy that hummingbirds need for energy.
While boiling will help slow the fermentation
of the nectar initially, the nectar in
hummingbird feeders is contaminated as soon as it is sipped by a
bird. Therefore, it is not necessary to boil the
nectar once the sugar has been dissolved. If you
use extra fine sugar no boiling may be needed.
The ratio of sugar and water can be slightly
adjusted, but a solution that is too sweet will
be difficult for the birds to digest and one that does not
contain enough sugar will not be suitable to
attract hummingbirds. The 4:1 water to sugar
ratio most closely approximates the sucrose levels in natural
nectar.
Hummingbird nectar must be completely cool
before filling feeders. Hot nectar can warp or
crack both glass and plastic hummingbird feeders and warm nectar
will ferment more quickly.
Commercial hummingbird nectar products may
advertise different flavors, vitamins and other
additives that are supposed to attract additional birds. These
additives are not necessary for hummingbirds
health and a simple sugar solution will attract
just as many birds as more expensive commercial products.
Unused hummingbird nectar can be stored in the
refrigerator for up to one week. When making your
own nectar, adjust the recipe quantity to only make enough
for one week to eliminate waste.
Clean hummingbird feeders
at least once a week and refill them with fresh
nectar. In warm weather or when multiple birds
are using the feeder, clean them more frequently.
list end
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