Hummingbird Nectar
This homemade hummingbird nectar will keep your hummingbirds healthy, happy, and coming back for more! This 2 ingredient recipe, that replicates the sucrose content of nectar producing flowers, takes just 10 minutes! When to look for hummingbirds to arrive Where I live, in the midwest, hummingbirds arrive late April to early May. In the northern US, look for them to arrive mid May to early June. The coastal areas, south Texas, Arizona, Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America enjoy hummingbirds year round. How to attract hummingbirds Hummingbirds are attracted to red, but don’t use any food coloring. It could be harmful to them. Attract them with some red flowers nearby or get a feeder with with red accents. Offering a consistent source of food will also attract hummingbirds. Keep your feeder clean and full, and plant flowers nearby that bloom at different times. For more tips on attracting hummingbirds, visit The Ultimate Guide For Attracting Hummingbirds. How to make hummingbird nectar This super easy recipe replicates the sucrose content of nectar producing flowers. In a saucepan, mix together 1 part pure white cane sugar and 4 parts water. Boil, cool, and fill your feeder. According to the hummingbird society, it is best for the hummingbirds if pure white cane sugar is used, although beet sugar would be an acceptable alternative. Regular sugar has small amounts of molasses, which is toxic to hummingbirds. Store the remaining nectar in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. When to put your feeder out It’s best to have your feeder filled earlier rather than later. If they don’t find food, they’ll move on, however, once they locate your feeder they will visit each year. When to change out the nectar The warmer the weather, the more often you will need to change the nectar. In cooler temperatures, you could change it once a week, but when it gets above 60-70 degrees it will need to be changed every 3-4 days. How to keep insects away There are several ways to help keep insects away from your feeder: choose a no insect feeder avoid yellow feeders as wasps and bees are attracted to yellow keep the feeder clean keep the feeder in a shaded area hang your feeder from an insect moat When to remove the feeder There is a myth that says if you leave the feeder out in the Fall the birds will not migrate south. The truth is, hummingbirds instinctively know when to migrate and having the feeder available in the Fall ensures that they will have food sources available for refueling on their journey. It’s best to keep the feeder available for 1-2 weeks after the last bird has been seen. By keeping your feeder full of fresh nectar, you should be able to enjoy watching those adorable little hummingbirds until mid October when they migrate south. If you like this post, subscribe to Artzy Foodie to get all the latest tasty goodness straight to your inbox! And, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates! Homemade nectar to keep your hummingbirds healthy and happy!