Each morning during the summer, using artificial food coloring to lure birds, millions of families concoct bright red hummingbird nectar thinking they are offering enticing meals to magical creatures. Most families, however, don’t know that the artificial food coloring is damaging the birds’ kidneys to the point of shorting their lives.
Bring Hummingbirds Right To Your Window!
Check PriceYour feeders aren't the only way to attract these super pollinators. It may be surprising, but creating a lasting hummingbird nectar solution is extremely simple. We will show you how to create a hummingbird haven without the upkeep of feeders.
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Ruinous Effects of Red Dye on Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds can see dozens of colors and do not need colorful nectar to locate feeders. Artificial red dye serves but one purpose; to catch human attention. Hummingbirds have the vision to spot small red flowers from hundreds of feet away, making the artificial coloring dye unneeded.
The real issue is what these dyes do to a hummingbird's body. These synthetic chemicals build up in their kidneys over time and cause more and more damage with each feeding. Research indicates that the lifespans of hummingbirds that feed on dyed nectar are much shorter than those that feed on more natural sources of food. They also suffer from kidney failure at a much higher rate.
Think about this: a hummingbird is lighter than a nickel. Because of this, their little bodies quickly begin to store dangerous amounts of artificial chemicals. What may appear to be a small amount of artificial chemicals to us, is a huge, deadly amount to these fragile little animals.
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe: Ready in 5 Minutes
There is a 5 minute process that can help create safe and nutricious nectar for hummingbirds. It costs very little and can be done on a tight budget. Here is the recipe used by wildlife rehabilitators:
Basic Recipe:
* 1 part white sugar
* 4 parts water
* Boil the water first
* Stir until sugar is completely dissolved
* Let it cool completely before filling the feeders
Do not use honey (it fosters dangerous bacteria), brown sugar (the iron in brown sugar is toxic to hummingbirds), or any form of artificial sweeteners (they have no nutritional value at all). Regular white granulated sugar has the same carbohydrate content as natural flower nectar.
Smart Nectar Management That Saves Lives
Even perfect nectar can be dangerous is not managed properly. Here is how to keep your feeding station safe:
Weather Change Schedule:
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• Hot weather (80°F+): Change every day
• Warm weather (70-79°F): Change every 2-3 days
• Cool weather (less than 70°F): Change every 4-5 days
Hummingbirds can develop liver problems from drinking fermented nectar. If your feeders have cloudy nectar, black mold, or have a sour odor, clean everything right away using a bleach solution and start fresh.
Make sure to clean the feeders each week with hot water and a bottle cleaning brush. Be sure to clean the small feeding ports. Since they are small, bacteria love to hide in this narrow area.
Red Feeder Parts: All the Attraction You Are Looking For
The bright red parts on hummingbird feeders are not just for decoration. They also serve a purpose for scientific attraction. Hummingbirds have great color vision and can see red from far away. They also use red plastic flowers and red feeding ports as visual cues to find your hummingbird feeder.
Although many veteran hummingbird enthusiasts report that their feeders with red accents and feeders with clear nectar attract just as many visitors as feeders that use dyed alternatives, the difference is healthier birds that visit more frequently and live longer.
Hummingbird Paradise Created By Native Plants
Although feeders make it easier to provide supplemental feeding, native plants offer long lasting, sustainable habitats for hummingbirds that function year-round. These sources of nectar require no upkeep, give the best nutrition to the birds, and pull in the insects that the hummingbirds require for protein.
Best Native Hummingbird Plants:
• Bee balm: Summer blossoms with red tube-shaped flowers
• Cardinal flower: Vivid red spike flowers in the late summer
• Trumpet honeysuckle: Native climbing vine with orange-red trumpet flowers
• Wild columbine: Spring delicate flowers with spurs
• Coral bells: Tall flower spikes with many small blooms
• Salvia: Long blooming red or purple flower spikes
Instead of planting single specimens, plant them in clusters. Hummingbirds tend to visit gardens with grouped native plants as opposed to scattered individual flowers. Furthermore, multiple blooms improve the visual efficiency of locating food sources for these tiny birds.
Establishing an Entirely New Habitat for Hummingbirds
In addition to nectar, healthy hummingbirds need more nourishment. A year-round thriving habitat of a hummingbird gives them everything they need.
Hummingbirds Prefer SHALLOW DISHES. These are easy to clean, fill and replace. They love to bathe and drink in gentle sprinkling water. Dipping water and bathtubs are not recommended. Keep the water fresh and clean. Hummingbirds prefer to drink and bathe in moving water. As they come to the shallow dish they may dip the water before moving on.
Nesting material: Plant fibers, small sticks, and spider webs are great materials to leave out and will be used by females to build incredibly intricate nests that expand with the babies.
Insect habitat: Do not use pesticides at all. Hummingbirds need protein and they get it from small insects like gnats, mosquitoes, and aphids. A garden with lots of insects helps make stronger and more successful hummingbird families.
Since hummingbirds are more in need of feeding sources during migration periods, it is important to provide consistent nectar sources. To do this, it is important to consider planting different flowers in the garden that bloom from early spring to late fall.
Every little effort in creating safer, more natural feeding alternatives, helps these amazing animals. From maintaining feeders with nectar and planting native gardens, you are doing your part for backyard hummingbird conservation. These flying jewels deserve our best.
