Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air

Hummingbirds are magical, enchanting, captivating; they have the grace and precision of a ballerina and give us only a fleeting glance before moving on.  To teach Ella about these remarkable birds, we hung several feeders in her outdoor kitchen area this summer.  We love to watch them float in, dine on nectar, and flee.  We wish they would stay longer, but understand they spend their lives in fast forward.

As a special birthday gift for Ella's "aunt" Chas, we purchased a hand-blown glass, butterfly-shaped hummingbird feeder with copper wings (she loves butterflies).  To complete the gift, Ella and I made the magical bird's favorite nectar food.  I can't remember exactly where I found the recipe (I've had it a while), but below are the instructions we followed...

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

1 part sugar/4 parts water

Boil the water first, then measure and add sugar, 

at the rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water.

Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until ready 

to use.  Do not add food coloring, honey (which 

ferments), or artificial sweetner, which has no 

nutritional value.

You will need to clean your feeder about once a week. According

to the National Audubon Society, this should be done by rinsing 

with one part white vinegar to four parts water. If the feeder is 

dirty, try adding a few grains of dry rice to the vinegar solution 

to help scrub it clean. Follow the vinegar wash by rinsing three 

times with clear, warm water before refilling with sugar solution.

Happy Birthday sweet Chas...we're passing the magic on to you!