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Homemade Hummingbird Nectar
We love hummingbirds and love to watch them throughout the day,
especially after a long day, relaxing in our backyard nature retreat.
We have 4 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, hummingbirds are very territorial) which
helps cut down on the fighting.
Our recipe is derived from the old standard 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 cane sugar. As you know, there are two sources
of sugar: 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, so less fat).
Sorry, back to the topic. The second constituent of 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 that it is better than
using distilled or purified water in our hummingbird recipe.
Now, if you're a city dweller, you may have chlorine or fluoride added
to your water. I'd recommend boiling that water to flash off the
chlorine or fluoride, 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. So 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.
Hope you enjoyed the article!
Author: George Steiner
George Steiner
www.hum-ming-bird.com
About the author:
George and wife Judy are empty nesters (ah ha no wonder the affinity
for birds!) who enjoy the outdoors, stained glass and eagerly awaiting
for the truckloads of laundry that their two college daughters bring
home.
Of recent, the internet has played an integral part in George's
lengthening "To Do" list and Judy's search for a Internet rehabilitation
center.
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