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There is no doubt that hummingbirds add magic to a garden, but it is not magic that keeps them going. Sometimes they need a boost of energy to carry them through.
Ornithologist Rachel Holpert shares her knowledge of hummingbirds and instructions for a feeder made from recycled materials that keep the ants away and will have hummingbirds visiting your yard for their miniature show throughout the summer.
If you are planning to keep a hummingbird feeder in your yard it is easy to make your own sugar water at home. Just dissolve 1 part sugar to 4 parts water with or without heating. This mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. If having a problem with wasps and/or bees, a 1:5 solution can be made. This deters the insects, but is still sugary enough for the birds. No red dye; red feeder parts will do the job of attracting hummingbirds
Materials:
Recycled baby food jar
Red spray paint
3 oz. Recycled metal tin (this will be filled with water to make an ant trap)
Green spray paint
Clear caulking
20 gage Copper wire
Waxed twine
Small twig
Tools:
Drill
¼" drill bit
1/32" drill bit
Wire clippers
Small pliers
- Change the sugar water every two to three days or it will spoil and be unhealthy for the birds.
- Mixes from stores spoil more quickly than what you can make fresh at home.
- Feeders give hummingbirds the needed boosts that give them energy to catch bugs and do there other feeding
- Hummingbirds are able to hover in mid air by moving their wings in the motion of a figure 8 like a helicopter.
Directions:
1. Just above center, on the inside of the jar lid, mark a small cluster for dots with a permanent pen, and drill through the dots with 1/32" bit, then enlarge the holes with a ¼" bit.
2. Sand the lid to remove burs and make the surface receptive to paint then spray paint the lid red. Set aside to dry
3. Drill 4 holes in the bottom of the tin with the 1/32" drill bit. Sand the can and spray paint it green. Set aside to dry
4. Cut two 20" long pieces of copper wire and fold the wires in half. Twist the wires several times to make a loop at the fold that you will hang the feeder from. Make the loop large enough to hang from a garden hook.
5. Put the 4 wires into the 4 holes in the bottom of the tin and fold them back the so the bottom of the tin can rest flat on the table. Squeeze clear caulk into the tin covering its bottom to seal holes. When the caulk is dry twist the wires together in pairs all the way down their length, then bend the wires up to make a deep hook.
6. Cut a length of wire about 15" long and wrap the wire around the mouth of the jar. Twist the wire tightly together to secure it. Continue twisting the wire until you have about 1 to 1 ½ inches of twist. Splay open the wires and twist either end around a small twig to make a perch.
7. Cut a long length of waxed twine. Along the length of the twine tie two long loops (of equal length) about 1/2" apart. Tie the ends of the twine around the mouth of the jar, make a double knot and trim the ends.
8. Screw on the lid and attach the loops to the wire hooks. Fill the feeder and hang it.
Special Thanks:
Rachel Holbert
The Norman Bird Sanctuary
www.normanbirdsanctuary.org