Nothing Better than 4 to 1

     I had a friend comment to me about a product being fed to hummingbirds and other birds that feed from nectar feeders. It, like many others, promise to be the next best thing in attracting the most hummingbirds. 
I want to say first of all that you have to get them to your feeders before they'll know what's in it. Secondly, know that sugar water is better than anything. It's what they require to keep their engines finely tuned. They have a supersonic metabolism that requires sugar to keep them functioning, and this is precisely why flowers extract these high sugar concentrations. 
     There are many angry people out there that claim these manufactured products are harmful to birds, and whether you believe it or not, you should know that these products are simply not needed. A simple mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar is perfect! For those who have attracted hummingbirds for many years, they will concur. Hummingbirds will fly miles to drink this sugar water mixture. Some may ask why would a hummingbird feed from a feeder over flowers. It's simple...it requires no energy to sit and enjoy the never ending supply from a feeder. It requires a lot of energy to gain the same amount of nectar from multiple flowers. 
        Finally, choose colorful feeders, preferably red to draw their attention, or use red tape to brighten up your older feeders. We have so many options nowadays for feeders that all we need is a simple 4 to 1 mixture of sugar water, and you're set to go.
Image - Ruby throat N.E. of Edmonton, AB. Older photo taken in 2006. 

---