Category: Hummingbird Food

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Hummingbird Food

Nectar: To Boil or Not to Boil?

People often wonder if nectar solution should be boiled or not.    This is a question that I have been asked over and over and therefore I will now address the issue in this post. There seems to be many differing opinions on this matter, but I personally believe that it is best boil hummingbird nectar solution. Let me explain why.
 
By boiling the nectar solution, the chlorine that exists in the water will be driven out and this will also kill mold and yeast spores that might exist in the nectar solution. Doing so will help ensure that the nectar solution will last longer both in the feeder and in your refrigerator. 
 
Boling the nectar solution also helps kill bacteria that would be harmful to the hummingbirds. 
 
Boiling the solution helps to ensure that the sugar is completely dissolved. Once this occurs, let the nectar solution cool completely before filling your feeders. 
 
A word of caution about boiling nectar solution, you must remember to not boil nectar solution for too long, because by doing that ratio of the mixture (the amount of water to the amount of sugar used) will change as it is boiled off.
 
I sincerely hope that this hopes everyone make a more informed decision on this matter. The benefits would seem to far outweigh the time it takes to do so. Why not air on the side of caution in this matter, rather then risk causing any harm to the hummingbirds?
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Dear Mom Hummingbird Food

Vines that Attract Hummingbirds

I don’t like winter at all. I can’t stand to be cold whatsoever. In my ideal world, at least in my opinion, the temperature should always remain between 70-80 degrees year round. Also, regardless of where you live, there would be hummingbirds around throughout the year, no matter the season. In southeast Texas there are no hummingbirds in the winter.
 
Can you tell how much I miss them? Well, I certainly do for so many reasons. Hummingbirds are such beautiful and fascinating creatures, when they are here the weather is normally sunny, and mostly because these birds remind me so much of my mom whom I miss so very much.
 
So dear readers please try and understand why I have written so many posts recently on how to attract hummingbirds. In doing so I am reminding myself that warmer weather and these amazing birds will soon be back with us. Yea! It is also my way of connecting with my mom during this holiday season. 
 
Blow is a list of some vines that will attract hummingbirds. Please, consider planting any of the in your hard, because both you and the birds will be glad you did so.
 
Coral Honeysuckle
Crossvine
Trumpet vine 
Gold Flame Honeysuckle: This is an early bloomer, as it begins about the same time that the hummingbirds show up, and it will continue until after they leave.  As an added bonus, it smells terrific.
 
Christmas is almost here mom and that makes me miss you even more then usual. It comforts me to care your memory with me and I believe that you are somehow aware of all that I am doing about hummingbirds. You are in Heaven now but your memory is also alive and well in my heart. Merry Christmas to one and all!  Here’s to looking forward to warmer weather and the return of the hummingbirds…it can’t come too soon for me.
 
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Hummingbird Food

Perennials Which Attract Hummingbirds

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The following are some types of perennials that are known to attract hummingbirds.  It is my hope these suggestions will enspire you to want to think about what you can plant in your own yard to help attract the hummingbirds. 

 

Due to the fact that each area of the country has different planting zones or types of plants that are known to grow well in that region of the country, it is impossible for me to know if these specific plants will work for each of you or not.  My desire is to get you to be thinking about this matter so that you will be prepared when it is time to deciede what to plant in your yard.  If you need further advice on this subject, please consult your local garden center or  plant nursery for further advice.

 

Agastache – Tutti Frutti, Heather Queen, Apricot Sprite and Rupestris.
Bee Balm 
Canna lily
Cuphea 
Fuchsia
Penstemmons
Salvia 

You will be glad you planted some of the suggestions, because by doing so you will  combining the two most popular outdoor activities:  gardening and birdwatching.  You will give the birds a natural food souce and you will be beautifying your yard at the same time. 

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Hummingbird Food

It is Officially Winter

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According to our local meteorologist, today is the first official day of winter. I know that many of you are probably thinking that you have been experiencing winter weather for some time already now. I understand. I’m just letting you know that according to the calendar it is now officially the winter season. That said, I thought I’d offer you a reminder about the winter feeding of hummingbirds.
 
Just because it is now winter and the weather results in freezing temperatures, it is not necessary to put anything additional in a winter hummingbird feeder except sugar water. As a result of the colder temperatures, you will probably want to change the ratio used to make your nectar solution from the usual 4:1 mix to 3:1 to help retard the freezing of the nectar solution. 
 
Even during the cold winter season hummingbirds are able to replenish their fat and supply their need for protein. They do so by capturing tiny free-flying insects and even by gleaning small invertebrates from twigs and bark. Another way they do this is by hanging around "sapsucker wells" that attract insects and provide carbohydrates via tree sap.
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Hummingbird Feeders Hummingbird Food

Use Red to Entice Hummingbirds

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Entice the hummingbirds to your garden by planting something red, because this will entice them to stay and check out all your flowers, regardless of their color, in order to determine those that are good nectar sources. 
 
You can also put red or orange surveyors tape or ribbons on your hummingbird feeders as another way to attract hummingbirds to your yard in the spring.
 
The idea is to entire the hummingbirds to visit your yard frequently and to make them want to stay for a while. The color red with help you do this but it is not the most important thing to keep in mind. Whenever choosing a flower, the hummingbird will select the flower with the highest nectar output and the richest concentration of sugars, regardless of the shape or color of the flower. Also more important than the color of the flower is how the nectar taste.