Frequently Asked Questions

Nongame Wildlife

What do you feed hummingbirds (in outdoor, supplemental feeders)?

Hummingbirds enjoy a very simple mixture of sugar and water (ratio of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water). Make sure to boil the mixture to slow down fermentation (rotting) of the nectar. There is no need to add food coloring to the mixture, since the red that is probably already on your feeder is plenty to attract the buzzing beasts. Since we don't know whether the food coloring may actually harm hummingbirds, it's best simply to omit it. If there isn't any red already on the feeder, you can tie a red ribbon on the feeder or attach a silk flower on the feeding tube.