Make Your Own Hummingbird Nectar
Spring is here, and with it comes the hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are some of the smallest, and dare I say, cutest birds around. There are over 300 species of hummingbird in the world, at least 23 of which can be found in the United States. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we tend to see Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna) and Rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus).
Anna’s hummingbird
Hummingbirds are well known for their extremely fast heartbeat and rapid wing flaps. Especially during migration seasons, they burn through a ton of energy. They feed on nectar from flowers to maintain this energy. Lucky for them, humans love to watch hummingbirds, so we often put out feeders in our yards to attract them.
Anna’s hummingbird
Hummingbird nectar is very easy to make at home with just two simple ingredients. If you have a hummingbird feeder in your yard, you should change the nectar and clean it at least once a week, and as frequently as every few days when it is warmer out. The sweet liquid can be a breeding ground for bacteria, so it is important to keep it fresh for the health of your birds.
Make your own hummingbird nectar
You will need:
½ cup granulated white sugar (not honey or other types of sugar)
2 cups of boiled and filtered water
1. Mix to dissolve ½ cup of granulated sugar with 2 cups of boiled water while the water is still warm.
*Important: Food coloring or dyes are not necessary and can be harmful to the birds.
2. Let the nectar cool to room temperature before adding it to your feeder.
3. Leftover nectar can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks
Anna’s hummingbird
If you don’t see hummingbirds at your feeder right away, keep the nectar fresh and they will eventually come. If you put it out too late in the season, it is possible they won’t find your feeder until next year.
One of my favorite websites for checking the status of the hummingbird migration is Hummingbird Central. They have an interactive map where people can report sightings.
