Remember, this is the time of year when many hummingbirds begin the long trip from Canada and the US to Mexico and Central America for the winter. To help give little hummers passing through Crystal and Lane a helping hand during their fall migration, leave feeders up to provide energy for their trip. Be sure to clean your feeders regularly to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus, which can harm hummingbirds.
In really hot weather, my cousin cleans her feeders daily…however, if you, like me, are not as diligent as she is, just try to keep an eye on the feeders and clean them if they become cloudy or have some mold growing. Keep your homemade sugar- water solution (with no red dye) up until you don’t see any late season migrants.
The recipe for hummingbird nectar is: mix one part refined white sugar with four parts water (4 cups water to 1 cup sugar) until the sugar is fully dissolved. During cooler fall weather, you can slightly increase your concentration to a 3:1 ratio to provide extra energy. Do not use honey, artificial sweeteners, or red dyes, as these can be harmful to hummingbirds.
