I was looking up information on Ruby Throated Hummingbirds this morning. It’s mid-April and I’m looking forward to our summer visitors.
I came across a Daily Journal from July 2004, in which the writer came across a hummingbird nest and it’s tiny occupants:
Encourage those little hummingbirds to visit your yard often, by providing plenty of flowers and an easy homemade hummingbird nectar recipe (with a little extra sugar, encourage orioles and butterflies too!)
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
that is such a cute picture! one of my all time favourites
you should read the poem ”a hummingbird spoke to me one day”
actually, it’s advisable NOT to add sugar to the water, because this water is subject to develop a fungus that attacks hummingbirds’ beak, so instead of feeding, you’re killing them =/
How should we feed them if not sugar water? I think maybe you mis-typed or maybe have some mis-information… feeding nectar (aka sugar water) is perfectly fine. Bacteria will grow at some point regardless of how the mixture is made, so making sure there is fresh nectar is most important. Here is more information regarding making homemade hummingbird nectar (or hummingbird juice as I tend to call it).
It’s harmless if you empty and clean the feeders daily and twice a week with a solution of water and hypochlorite for 30 minutes, wash it really well and then let it dry naturally. BOIL it once a week; always use potable water.
If it’s not cleaned every day, the fungus that is produced causes a disease similar to cancer in their beaks and throat, distend their tongues and causes them to die of hunger or suffocation.
Plus, it interferes in the polinization, as they tend to go to feeders instead of flowers. Sugar water offers energy, but it also prevents them from getting the nutrients from the small insects they feed off. It’s like spoiling our kids. Not very healthy, is it?
There are, HOWEVER, specific products sold at petshops and specialized stores for feeding hummingbirds, and they can be left up to 5 days without having to change it(but no more than that).
I love them too, and I’m only saying this because there has been way too many reports on Brazilian media about that lately.
If you’re still gonna urge others on with sugar water, make sure you emphasize they must clean it well and boil the feeder every day, alright?
Also, in the summer, it’s important to change the water more frequently, because the sugar ferments easily in hot weather. Use natural water, for chlorined water may cause gastroenteritis.
:)
Cheers!
http://www.petbrazil.com.br/bicho/aves/20.htm
http://www.nitvista.com/index_frame.php?url=%2Fmicrosite%2Fartigos%2Fexibe.php%3Fid%3D589%26canal%3Decoando
Good advice regarding cleaning, I don’t clean that often as it hasn’t been necessary for my feeders, but every few days to a week I generally give a good clean. The other link, the one to my recipe, does say to clean regularly.
Nectar isn’t intended to be their source of nutrients. Hummingbird nectar (as is flower nectar) is meant to as a fuel for them to search for insects – their source of nutrients.
Regular cane sugar should always be used, no honey or powdered sugars – these can be harmful. No raw sugars – which contain iron and can be harmful over time.
I have started planting more flowers to attract hummingbirds… much easier to have a garden full of flowers than worrying if the feeder anyway!
Thanks for your information Mari. Everyone has their way of doing things and don’t worry, my original post about feeding the little hummers does say to clean regularly.