Hummingbird Feeders
Hummingbirds are extremely loyal to feeding sites. A hummingbird that feeds in a yard one year will return to the hummingbird feeder the next. There are two Golden Rules concerning hummingbird feeders: Keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh.
Attract hummingbirds to your yard by hanging nectar feeders around your yard. Serving up nectar in an easy-access feeder is just the ticket for these little gluttons. They will visit them daily, as long as you refill them reliably.
Most hummingbird feeders are made of plastic or glass and have a main reservoir linked to a number of outlets. They are often red, as this color attracts hummers.
Begin by offering small amounts of nectar. It may take time to attract birds, and the mixture will go off and lose its appeal if it remains in the feeder for any length of time. Change the nectar and clean the hummingbird feeders every week, even if no birds are in attendance.
Sometimes a single bird will claim your hummingbird feeder as its own and chase other birds away. To discourage such behavior, hang a second feeder in another area or hang two or three spaced out along a clothesline. The bully will soon tire of trying to keep other birds away from all the feeders.
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Homemade nectar is nothing more than a solution of sugar and water, but when it is offered in a plastic or glass hummingbird feeder, it's irresistible to hummingbirds.
To make nectar, bring 2 or 3 cups of water to boil in a small saucepan. Stir 1/2 cup of white, granulated sugar (not brown sugar or honey). Continue stirring until all the sugar is dissolved. Cool the solution and pour it into a clean hummingbird feeder.
If you are trying to attract hummingbirds for the first time, use the more concentrated version of the formula (1/2 cup sugar to 2 cups water). Make sure your hummingbird feeders have red or orange trim or decorations. There is no need to add food coloring to the syrup. Once you have regular customers at your feeders, reduce the sweetness of your homemade nectar, as that is better for birds' long-term health.
