I received a comment from DL. “If your hummingbirds and orioles are not drinking the nectar you are making for them, it could be that your water supplier is adding the new type of chlorine chemical to the water supply. The birds are very sensitive to this new type of chemical, and they will not drink the nectar mixed with it.”
Apparently, many varieties of birds are very sensitive to smells; and, natural nectar does not have an odor.
Here is a link to more information about preparing hummingbird nectar, and a comment about chlorine.
http://www.hum-ming-bird.com/V4.5/Page/humming-bird-food-recipe.html
DL says he and his wife have been using bottled or distilled water to make their hummingbird nectar, and have no problems with the birds sipping it. That would be my recommendation, to use bottled or distilled water to make your nectar.
Unless it is very cold weather, I prefer to use the 4:1 water to sugar ratio. Meaning I will use one quarter cup of white granulated sugar to one cup of water. I bring the water to a boil and add the sugar. I mix it well to make sure all of the sugar dissolves. (Cold weather it is 3:1, meaning a third of a cup of white granulated sugar to one cup of water.)
After the water has cooled for a couple of hours, I bring in the feeder bottle and give it a good cleaning and rinsing. Then, I add the new water. Sometimes the hummers are waiting. It is fun to see them hover nearby as I replace their treat.
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I like to throw a cup of filtered water into the microwave for 60 seconds, then add sugar based on the 1:4 or 1:3 ratio (depending how cold it is outside), mix until the sugar is disolved and fill.
ReplyDelete60 seconds in the microwave is just enough time to warm up the water for disolving, but it also cools rapidly so that the nectar can be replenished quickly. This technique also works great for making a simple syrup (used in cocktails) so as to prevent the excruciating wait time and mess generated from boiling sugar water.
CMC - Everett