Hummingbirds actually have a long, forked tongue that's used to lick nectar up to 13 times every second either from a flower or a feeder and acts as a trough drawing the nectar in. Although hummingbirds do eat some insects and pollen, sugary nectar includes ninety percent of their overall diet.
Ordinary sugar water using four parts hot water and one part regular white sugar boiled for about two minutes are all that's needed to attract families of hummingbirds to your feeders.
Once the neighborhood hummingbirds know where your feeders are situated they will come back time and time again. The birds will soon become dependent upon the nectar you've been supplying, especially as the chillier, autumn months approach when they must double their size to prepare for the long trip south for the winter.
Make sure you keep your hummingbird feeders full and cleaned on a weekly basis, or even more often if you see a black mold start to develop. The mold that forms in feeders with nectar is harmful to the birds and must be eliminated immediately.
Use some vinegar and hot water (one part white vinegar, four parts water) along with a bottle brush to get into the crevices. Clean and rinse the feeders thoroughly several times to completely remove all of the vinegar. In the event that you don't have a bottle brush handy, use some dry rice or even a few clean pebbles and shake the feeders vigorously to mix the solution.
Never use honey or any type of artificial sweeteners in your hummingbird feeders as this promotes the development of potentially harmful microorganisms. Red food coloring, which has long been used in feeders to attract hummingbirds and other birds, is also not recommended. Instead, use a red feeder or suspend a red bow or a few beads nearby to attract these miniature avian wonders.
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