The hummingbird feeder I hung on the porch is one of my unexpected joys in life. I originally hung it up because hummingbirds kept dropping in on a certain spot – I’m convinced the previous owners of my house hung a food dispenser there – and popping up every summer demanding that I feed them. So I do.
In addition to the automatic feeders, the garden shop sells bottles of hummingbird food, both clear and red. (Red flowers are known to attract hummingbirds.) But you don’t need either type. It’s easier, cheaper, and better for the birds to make their own.
Even the Audubon Society recommends a homemade syrup instead of the bottled goods, and they also point out that the red coloring is not necessary. It has been speculated that red dye can be bad for hummingbirds, and in any case, it has not been specifically tested for long-term effects on hummingbirds.
People must have tried making hummingbird food out of all sorts of other substances because the Audubon side advises against making it with honey, molasses, or artificial sweeteners. Just sugar water. So, okay, let’s make some sugar water.
How to do it:
- Add 1/4 cup of sugar to a pint-sized mason jar or similar container.
- Add 1 cup of cold water or room temperature water.
- Unscrew the lid and shake.
That’s it – no need to heat it or add any other ingredients. The sugar will dissolve by gently shaking or stirring. (If you are familiar with make simple syrupwhich uses more sugar compared to water and needs a little more help to dissolve everything.)
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Once I’ve made the syrup, I bring the hummingbird feeder in and wash it with hot water. Then I pour in about half the serving – that’s about half a cup of liquid – and put the rest in the fridge for later in the week. Make sure to wash and refill the feeder twice a week to keep your little friends healthy.
