How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder From a Glass Jar

Hummingbird feeders can be made from glass jars and hung in the garden to attract hummingbirds. While red attracts the small bird, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology warns to never add red food coloring to homemade hummingbird nectar, nor should you make the nectar from honey. To lure the hummingbird, decorate the glass jar feeder in red, and to keep the hummingbird healthy, clean the feeder several times a week.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small glass jar with metal lid Hammer Nail Piece of wood Wire Red artificial flowers Florist wire Sugar Water Rope

1. Locate a small glass jar with a tiny opening, or one with a metal lid. If the jar is too large, you will be wasting nectar, as the jar will need to be filled so the bird can reach the liquid. A small vanilla jar works well. Sanitize the jar and lid.

2. Lay the lid on a piece of wood, with the outside of the lid facing up. Use a nail and hammer to punch holes in the lid. Make the holes large enough for the hummingbird to fit his beak through each hole.

3. Fasten a wire around the neck of the bottle. This will be used to hang the bottle from a tree.

4. Twist red artificial flowers around the outside of the glass jar to attract hummingbirds. Use florist wire to hold the flowers in place. You will want to be able to easily slip the flowers from the bottle so you can clean it several times a week.

5. Fill the bottle with sugar water, at a ratio of ¼ cup of sugar to 1 cup of water. Secure the lid on the jar.

6. Hang the bird feeder in a tree by fastening the wire you attached in Step 3 to a rope hung from a tree branch.

References

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology; All About Birds; Feeding Hummingbirds

[jschiavoni]

on 7/8/2009 In hotter climates or during extreme heat hummers will dehydrate faster so it is recommended using 5 parts water to 1 part sugar - this is sufficient as hummers will still feed at flowers for natural nectar