| HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPE | | | | concentrations of lead or arsenic. Its safe for us to |
| We love hummingbirds and love to watch them | | | | drink so the hummers get the benefits of some added |
| throughout the day, especially after a long day, relaxing | | | | minerals. We feel its better than usingdistilled or purified |
| in our backyard nature retreat. | | | | water in our hummingbird recipe. |
| We have 4 feeders that are strategically located | | | | Now, if you're a city dweller, you may have chlorine or |
| throughout our gardens. The red, hummingbird nectar | | | | flouride added to your water. I'd recommend boiling |
| feeders ( red attracts hummingbirds) are placed in | | | | that water to flash off the chlorine or flouride, 5 |
| areas that are naturally defined "territories" ( as you | | | | minutes ofboiling should be sufficient. |
| know, hummingbirds are very territorial) which helps cut | | | | Next ingredient ....RED COLORING....No way! |
| down on the fighting. | | | | Lets look at it from a hummingbird's perspective. They |
| Our recipe is derived from the old standard recipe, but | | | | like red and are attracted to the color due to genetics |
| please be aware that a lot of research has gone into | | | | and environmental stimuli ... flowers. If your hummingbird |
| making sure that we are providing the most beneficial | | | | feeder isred... why do you need more? |
| source of hummingbird food replacement. | | | | Naturally occurring nectar is clear and odorless ( |
| Our recipe starts with cane sugar. As you know, there | | | | Hummingbirds are not attracted by scent). So why buy |
| are two sources of sugar: cane sugar and beet sugar, | | | | these colored or scented mixes? |
| of which 70% of the world's supply comes from cane | | | | The red coloring (Red #40) has been banned in |
| sugar. Both are chemically "sucrose" and fall into the | | | | countries due to its mutagenic properties ( can cause |
| carbohydrate family. Carbohydrates are easily | | | | cancer). Why would you want to introduce chemicals |
| digested and provide the immediate "energy boost" | | | | into the hummingbird's diet that are foreign to their |
| that hummingbirds need tosustain their incredibly high | | | | digestive system? |
| metabolism. (Comment: I guess if we humans had that | | | | Several experienced, licensed wildlife rehabilitators |
| kind of metabolism we wouldn't be facing our obesity | | | | have reported seeing disturbing damage in hummers |
| crisis! Wow...what a concept ...more exercise | | | | that were known to use dyed syrup, including tumors |
| ...increased metabolic rate ...burn more calories ...less | | | | of the bill and liver. |
| fat). | | | | Here is our researched hummingbird food recipe: |
| Sorry! Back to the topic...the second constituent our | | | | 1 part cane sugar/ 4 parts water ( no chlorine or |
| hummingbird food recipe is water. Ever thought about | | | | fluoride) |
| the type of water you use for your hummingbird | | | | Measure and add sugar, at the rate of 1/4 cup of |
| food? We have. The hummingbird's source water | | | | sugar to 1 cup of water. Let cool and store excess in |
| comes from the naturally occurring water sources | | | | refrigerator untilready to use. |
| available: dew, rain water and deposits of rain water, | | | | Fill one-third of the container and be sure to change |
| people provided (bird baths), and finally that provided in | | | | the mixture twice a week. You will need to clean your |
| the hummingbird's diet. | | | | feeder every few days, with hot water and a mild |
| We use our tap water which is supplied from our well. | | | | (10%) bleach solutionto inhibit bacteria/mold. Rinse |
| The water's chemical composition is generally hard ( | | | | thoroughly before refilling with water syrup. |
| contains calcium and magnesium) but has a TDS ( | | | | Hope you enjoyed the article! |
| Total Dissolved Solids)of 275 ppm with no measurable | | | | |