Best Hummingbird Nectar Recipe: 1 cup of white cane sugar dissolved in 4 cups water.
This is an important time of year for feeding hummingbirds -- a time that people don't always think about since the summer is coming to an end. With the southern migration of hummingbirds starting, it is very important to have feeders ready with lots of fresh nectar for them to load up on. It not only helps them build up their body weight for their long journey back to their winter homes (the ruby-throated travels all the way back to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico -- the ultimate snowbird!), it also proves that you will be a dependable feeding station for them next year when they come back North. Hummingbirds come back to the same gardens each year, so why not show them now that you are the best place to spend the summer!
Keep the nectar fresh -- even if you don't see a lot of hummingbirds feeding. The fresher the nectar, the longer they will stay and feed and the more likely they are to come back to you next year. (I recommend changing your nectar every 3-4 days in warm weather...well, in any type of weather, this is really the ideal. One week max in cooler weather.
Lastly, one other comment. Since it has been incredibly dry in some areas this summer, there have not been as many flowers in bloom this year to supply nectar for hummingbirds. Feeders are supplying most of the available nectar in some areas. So, please keep your feeders full of FRESH nectar. They will remember you next year for it!
Below is video of another PARASOL hummingbird feeder this week. They are hungry!
