HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPE

We love to feed hummingbirds and love to watch them feed on our homemade hummingbird nectar throughout the day, especially after a long day, relaxing in our backyard nature retreat.

We have 4 hummingbird feeders that are strategically located throughout our gardens. The red, hummingbird nectar feeders ( red attracts
hummingbirds)are placed in areas that are naturally defined
"territories" (as you know, hummers are very territorial) which helps cut down on the fighting.

Our hummer recipe is derived from the old standard hummingbird recipe, but please be aware that a lot of research has gone into making
sure that we are providing the most beneficial source of
hummingbird food replacement.

Our recipe starts with pure cane sugar. As you know, there
are two sources: cane sugar and beet sugar of which 70%
of the world's supply comes from cane sugar. Both are
chemically "sucrose" and fall into the carbohydrate family.
Carbohydrates are easily digested and provide the immediate
"energy boost" that hummingbirds need to sustain their
incredibly high metabolism. (Comment: I guess if we humans
had that kind of metabolism we wouldn't be facing our obesity
crisis! Wow…what a concept … more exercise … increased metabolic
rate … burn more calories …less fat).

Sorry! Back to the topic…the second constituent our
hummingbird food recipe is water.Ever thought about the
type of water you use for your hummingbird food? We have.
The hummingbird's source water comes from the naturally
occurring water sources available: dew, rain water and
deposits of rain water, people provided (bird baths),
and finally that provided in the hummingbird's diet.

We use our tap water which is supplied from our well. The
water's chemical composition is generally hard
(contains calcium and magnesium) but has a TDS
(Total Dissolved Solids)of 275 ppm with no measurable
concentrations of lead or arsenic. Its safe for us to drink
so the hummers get the benefits of some added minerals. We
feel its better than using distilled or purified water
in our hummingbird recipe.

Now, if you're a city dweller, you may have chlorine or
flouride added to your water. I'd recommend boiling that
water to flash off the chlorine or flouride, 5 minutes of
boiling should be sufficient.

Next ingredient ….RED COLORING….No way!

Lets look at it from a hummingbird's perspective. They
like red and are attracted to the color due to genetics
and environmental stimuli … flowers.If your hummingbird
feeder is red… why do you need more?

Naturally occurring nectar is clear and odorless
(Hummingbirds are not attracted by scent). So why buy
these colored or scented mixes?

The red coloring (Red #40) has been banned in countries
due to its mutagenic properties(can cause cancer).
Why would you want to introduce chemicals into the hummingbird's
diet that are foreign to their digestive system?

Several experienced, licensed wildlife rehabilitators have
reported seeing disturbing damage in hummers that were
known to use dyed syrup,including tumors of the bill and liver.

Here is our researched hummingbird food recipe:

1 part cane sugar/ 4 parts water ( no chlorine or fluoride)
Measure and add sugar, at the
rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water.
Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until
ready to use.

Fill one-third of the container and be sure to change the
mixture twice a week. You will need to clean your feeder
every few days, with hot water and a mild (10%) bleach solution
to inhibit bacteria/mold. Rinse thoroughly before refilling with
water syrup.

By George Steiner