Things to remember when using a Hummingbird Feeder!

Hummingbirds are a beautiful delight in every garden. These small birds derive the energy for metabolism mainly from flower nectar and tiny insects which act as their source for protein. Hummingbirds are attracted to a vast variety of flowering plants namely; shrimp plants, Bee Balm, Heliconia, Butterfly Bush, Hibiscus, bromeliads, cannas, verbenas, honeysuckles, salvias, pentas, fuchsias and many penstemons. Hummingbirds are supposedly attracted to red and yellow flowers. Hummingbirds feed on the nectar of these plants and are act as pollinators, especially of deep-throated flowers. However, Hummingbirds are usually given synthetic nectar from artificial feeders as they help in providing a consistent supply of nectar particularly even when flower blossoms are in scanty. Cleanliness of the feeder plays an integral role in maintaining the health of these birds. Preparation of nectar is quite easy and you can do it on your own! Homemade nectar is made by mixing 1 part white, granulated table sugar to 4 parts water. This mixture is then boiled so that the sugar dissolves easily and to purify the solution to keep it fresh for a longer period of time. The cooled nectar is later poured into the artificial feeder.

Certain things should be avoided while using feeders. Substances such as honey, artificial sweeteners, red dyes and preservatives should be avoided as they might have a harmful impact on hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors, especially red and therefore it is always good to use a feeder is painted red, rather than coloring the liquid which is offered in it.

A hummingbird feeder should be designed in such a way that it is easy to refill the feeder. The feeder must always be kept clean and hygienic. Prepared nectar can be kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks before being used so that it doesn't lose its freshness. Prior to changing the nectar, the feeder should be properly rinsed with warm water. The reservoir and ports must be flushed in order to eliminate any contamination or sugar build-up. If dish soap has been used once, it always requires extra rinsing to ensure that no residue is left behind. The feeder must be soaked in dilute chlorine bleach and rinsed with clear water to do away with mould. A good feeder must have extremely narrow ports, or ports with meshes which would prevent insects like bees and wasps from getting inside where they have chances of getting trapped. A second feeder which contains a slightly lower sugar concentration must be placed in order to avoid the possibility of large hummingbirds driving the smaller ones away from the feeder.