Humming birds are always looking for food. They require an enormous amount of calories to keep their tiny bodies going at the fast rate at which they travel. So the quest for non stop calories is always an issue for them. Humming birds are instinctive little creatures. If they find that someone has left a place for food on a consistent basis, they will keep returning to that same place. They will continue to return until the food source dries up or disappears. They are a fascinating bird to watch, and are many peoples' favorites as far as bird watching goes. Humming birds are a migratory bird, so different people will see them at different times throughout the year.
Colors effect humming birds, as with most other animals. Humming birds are attracted to bright colors. This is one of the main reasons you will see commercial humming bird feeders painted red. They come in many sizes, but most of them are tubular in shape. Many will have a flower shape where the humming bird actually feeds. Humming birds are different from birds in that they do not actually go into the feeder to eat. They eat primarily nectar. The birds also eat small bugs for protein. The feeders are made in either glass, ceramic or plastic, with plastic being the most popular choice. The design does not seem to matter much to the humming birds as long as there is fresh syrup in the feeder. Many birds in an area grow accustomed to a certain kind, so if you see your neighbors with a lot of humming bird activity, you may want to get the same kind they have. It may take awhile for them to "warm up" if you have a different kind of feeder in your garden or yard.
The nectar that the humming bird will be feeding upon is the most important decision. It can be bought commercially or made at home using a simple recipe. To make nectar for humming birds you simply mix one part white cane sugar with four parts water. You should not boil the water. This mixture approximates the flowers preferred by North American humming birds without attracting a lot of insects. Although humming birds eat insects, they are not something you want conjugating around your feeder or garden. Unused syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The feeders should be washed about once a week to eliminate any remaining nectar. Attention should be given to the fact that wasps and bees may be attracted to the feeder. You should buy a feeder that has small holes or a netting over the holes so that wasps and bees cannot gain access. The holes should be small enough so these bugs can not gain access inside the feeder and become trapped. Humming bird feeders are an excellent way to capture the beauty of these wonderful creatures. After finding a suitable feeder and appropriate food, you should be able to enjoy them for years to come.
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