Providing Food for Hummingbirds: How to Make Hummingbird Nectar

Bird watching is a relaxing pastime, and the tiny hummingbird is one of the most interesting birds to watch. Quick and curious, these little birds can stop and hover in mid-air, fly backwards, dip and dart so fast they are just a blur. Hummingbirds need to eat huge amounts of nectar relative to their tiny size to fuel their rapid movements and quick metabolism. It is easy to draw these fascinating birds to the yard if you know how to make hummingbird food.

Attracting Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds come readily to yards in search of food. Their diet consists of flower nectar and tiny bugs and spiders. Hummingbirds require more calories than any other warm-blooded animal. Planting flowering trees, shrubs and perennials is the best way to invite hummingbirds to your yard.

The birds are especially drawn to tubular flowers in shades of red, orange and pink. Petunias, honeysuckle, trumpet vine, phlox and bee balm are favorites of the bird, although I have seen them at many different flowers in many different hues. Flowering plants supply both the insects and nectar that make up the birds' diet, and the birds benefit the flowers they visit by spreading pollen.

How to Make Hummingbird Food

Hummingbirds love to feed at feeders of nectar. Expensive premade nectar is simply not necessary. Nectar is easy to make. It is simply one part granulated sugar to four parts water.

Red dye is not needed. Also, never use honey in hummingbird food. Honey can cause an infection in the tongue.

Bring water to a boil and stir in sugar until it is dissolved. Allow the solution to cool before filling the feeder. Store any extra hummingbird nectar in the refrigerator.

The feeder needs to be checked every day, and the food should be changed every three to four days to prevent it from becoming sour. Nectar goes sour faster in feeders hanging in the full sun. It should be cleaned weekly with a weak vinegar solution to discourage mold growth. Use a bottle brush to clean.

Feeding the Birds

The great thing about feeders is you can draw the birds in where they are easy to observe. My feeder hangs in my kitchen window from a suction cup hanger attached to the window glass. I put the feeder out in the spring by Mother's Day in my zone 5 garden.

Hummingbirds return each year. If my hummingbird feeder isn't hung by the time the birds return, they hover in the window looking in as if to say, "Hey, I'm back. Where's my food?" I know summer is on the way when my hummingbirds are back.

Hummingbirds are a joy to watch in the garden. Their iridescent plumage catches the light like glowing jewels flitting and flying in the garden. You can easily attract hummingbirds if you know how to make hummingbird nectar.

Resource:

Personal experience

How to Attract Birds. Burke, Ken. Ed. Ortho Books:San Ramon, 1983.