Photo taken in my backyard! I have feeders everywhere. This recipe works like a charm.
I love the satisfaction of spotting a hummingbird. They are such fast little buggers that you barely get more than a buzzing over your head as they fly to their next sweet spot. My friend gave me a homemade hummingbird nectar recipe many years back – and it works like a charm at beckoning these long-beaked beauties. The birds love the nectar, it’s simple and frugal to make, and it is safe for the birds (unlike some of the red colored packaged stuff from the stores).
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup white sugar
- Boil water, add sugar, stir until dissolved.
- Don’t boil too long – it will change the ratio of sugar to water. You want a ratio of four (4) parts water to one (1) part sugar. So you could do 2 cups water and ½ sugar, if you wanted or any quantity that follows the ratio.
- Wait for it to cool and add to feeders. If you have leftovers, keep in fridge for up to two weeks.
- Don’t add food coloring – it can be harmful. I’ve found red feeders with clear nectar are very effective without adding extra colorings. Also placing the feeder near flowers and/or greenery – the birds like a quick escape into a tree or brush. Try to avoid spilling – or else you’ll be in the business of attracting ants.
Clean your feeders about twice a month to keep build-up at bay. Once the hummingbirds find you – you’ll need to be filling them up about that often anyway! Lowes or Home Depot carry window hooks that allow you to put the feeders on your windows – which is a fantastic way to see a bird. In fact, we had a hummingbird on our feeder throughout most of dinner last night – right on the dining room window. The whole family enjoyed watching it and we were glad he/she joined us for our meal. ?
If you don’t spot hummingbirds right away – don’t fret. Just keep putting out the food and they’ll come once they’ve deemed it safe, promise. Then they’ll come in droves.
And just for fun, I want to share one of my favorite mom memories. This is a photo of my son when he was about 9 months old. Watching the hummingbirds fly around the back deck and sip from the feeder. I can’t believe he’s going to be seven years old this year. Time flies, almost as fast as a hummingbird. . .
Do you have any secrets for attracting hummingbirds?
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