Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

Hummingbirds are very small, fast and beautiful birds, that have the ability to even fly backwards. Many people enjoy gardening specially for hummingbirds. Apart from other essential requirements, to attract hummingbirds to your garden, you must pay special attention to their feeding habits. A lot of instant hummingbird nectar mixes are available off the shelf, but simple ingredients are required to make the nectar, that are definitely available in your kitchen. For those of you who would like to do it yourself, here's how to make the hummingbird nectar recipe.

Recipe

All that is required to make hummingbird nectar is sugar and water. By following a simple procedure that will last less than 15 minutes, you will have fresh and unadulterated hummingbird nectar at hand, that is sure to attract lots of them to your garden.

Ingredients

• 4 parts Water
• 1 part White Sugar

Procedure

1. Boil the water and sugar together, and allow the sugar to dissolve.
2. Once dissolved, take the solution off the flame and allow it to cool.
3. Pour the required amount into the feeder.
4. Store any excess in the refrigerator.

Now that was indeed simple. Moreover, this simple recipe has a taste that comes quite close to the taste of the nectar that hummingbirds look for in flowers. The purpose of boiling the solution is to enable the sugar to dissolve in water. If you are using fine sugar, using warm water for the nectar will suffice.

Dos and Don'ts

As simple as the actual recipe may be, there are certain dos and don'ts that need to be followed, while preparing hummingbird nectar.

• Ensure the use of clean utensils while making the nectar. Hummingbirds are easily affected by contamination.
• Though there is no reason to do so, avoid using artificial sweeteners in the nectar, as they do not provide the nutrition that sugar does. Sugar is what gives them the high metabolism they have.
• It may be a fact that hummingbirds are attracted to color, which is why the hummingbird nectar mixes available contain red dyes. However, these dyes may be toxic in some cases, which harm the hummingbirds. Do not add any artificial coloring agents or dyes to the nectar. If you wish to attract a hummingbird using color, try to use a red feeder instead.
• Avoid using honey instead of sugar, because honey contains certain bacteria that are harmful for hummingbirds. Honey also tends to ferment quickly which can be dangerous for the birds.
• Though it has been said that the nectar in a feeder can last for up to a week, pour only enough amount of nectar in the feeder that will last for a maximum of two days. This is important because as soon as a hummingbird sips from the feeder, the nectar gets contaminated, giving rise to mold if not cleaned quickly. Also, if the nectar is fresh, it will definitely keep those hummingbirds coming back for more.
• To be able to keep the nectar fresh, it is important to keep the bird feeders clean as well. The best way to prevent the growth of mold or any other contamination is to clean it on a regular basis. Every time you change the nectar, rinse the feeder with a solution of hot water, and a very small amount of vinegar. Ensure that the smell of vinegar has left the feeder before you pour in fresh nectar. If you find mold growing in the feeder, soak the feeder in hot water and a small amount of bleach to eliminate it.
• Place a number of feeders in your garden to attract more hummingbirds. However, place them at different levels, as a certain species of hummingbirds tend to buzz lower for nectar, while another species does so at higher levels. This also eliminates any competition for the nectar.

It really is that simple to attract those beautiful hummingbirds to your garden with this simple recipe. Just keep the process clean and simple, and find your garden 'buzzing' with activity!