How to Boil Hummingbird Nectar

Homemade nectar is an inexpensive way to fill your hummingbird feeder.

Hummingbird feeders are a way to attract hummingbirds to your backyard. Hummingbirds' long bills help them extract nectar from flowers. Hummingbird feeders are an additional source of nectar for these birds. Homemade nectar consists of simply water and sugar, and it is very easy to prepare.

Instructions

1. Pour four cups of water into a small pot and place it on a stove top burner.

2. Bring water to a rolling boil.

3. Add one cup of white sugar to the boiling water.

4. Stir the boiling sugar water for 1 to 2 minutes until the sugar is dissolved.

5. Turn off the burner and remove the pot of sugar water from heat. Let it stand until cooled.

6. Fill your hummingbird feeder with homemade nectar and store any remaining nectar in your refrigerator.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the nectar in your feeder before it gets cloudy or moldy.

• Place your feeder in the shade to avoid the fermentation of nectar.

• Do not add red food coloring to your nectar. Although some store-bought nectar is dyed red, organizations devoted to birds, such as the National Audubon Society, recommend that red food color or dye is omitted.

References

• Audubon At Home: Hummingbirds/Nectar Feeders