Hummingbird Food

First posted on 09-09-2010

Soon hummingbirds will depart the Ozarks for a long trip south where they will bask in tropical climates for the winter. Plenty of nectar-filled red flowers await them and I often wonder if our counterparts in that part of the world put up feeders as many of us do here to welcome the birds and bid them to choose a territory in South American backyards.

Late this summer, my feeder was buzzing with activity. As many as four hummingbirds attempted to sip or chase or fight one another every day. I had a few in April and May before they all disappeared as their diets demanded less sugar and more protein, but they returned again in mid-July to drink deeply from the feeder. First, just one, then a couple, then the fight to secure some space was on.

The fact is, this is the first time I’ve ever had so much activity around that feeder. Usually, one bird stakes a claim and a challenger stops by now and then to test the defenses. But this year’s gathering was much different. The feeder location was the same. It was even the same feeder I’ve used for a couple of years. No new plants in the vicinity. In fact, not much was blooming at all in the sweltering heat of July and August.

The only change was the food. I ran out of the red-dyed, pre-packaged, mix-it-with-water variety and did not feel like firing up the truck to make a Wal-Mart run just to buy a 99-cent package of the mix. So, I went with the old fashioned 1:4 sugar to water, homemade brew. I didn’t boil it, so I didn’t have to set it aside to cool. The hummers in my yard were hungry and I mixed up a batch using cold tap water and a mason jar. A bit of shaking, not stirring, and the tasty treat was ready for the feeders.

Apparently, word got around.

Of course, this one variation did not follow a scientific method to prove whether homemade versus store bought is favored by ruby-throated hummingbirds, but I still speculate it made all the difference.

Yesterday, I watched an immature hummer insist he was going to get a drink despite the female that has been protecting this feeder. The immature bird tried to play musical chairs with the female and attempted to dine at each port on the feeder. Even a chase away by the female did not offend the unwelcomed guest. But, when they both departed, a male arrived only to be chased away by the female, just before a second female arrived and reacted to the first female’s threatening overtones before even having an opportunity to light on the feeder. Then the immature bird returned and the dance started all over.

Again, I don’t claim any of this to be science. But I do know that next year, the feeders will be filled with a well blended mixture of cold tap water and pure cane sugar from Hawaii.

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