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From: GC.SUL@forsythe.stanford.edu (MIKE SULLIVAN)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: hummingbird feeders
Message-ID: <2652@lindy.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 9 Apr 89 05:13:20 GMT
Sender: news@lindy.Stanford.EDU (News Service)
Lines: 24

I just found an old box of Perky Pet Hummingbird Nectar.  After
re-reading the box I am again advising people with hummingbird
feeders to use ONLY sugar and water in their feeders.  The correct
proportion is 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water.  I bring to the point of
boiling, and cool off and store in the refrigerator.  This
concentration most closely approximated natural flower nectar.  Do
not add red food color!  Most feeders have enough red on them to
attract the hummingbirds.  Getting back to the Perky pet formula-it
is mostly sugar anyway, with red artificial coloring added.  The box
also MISADVISES that it is okay to double their powder concentration
as "the birds won't need to feed as often".  This is both untrue and
dangerous advise.  A higher sugar concentration will cause liver
damage and reproductive problems.  These people are causing much
more harm that good.

Also, another word on feeders-keep them out of the sun. keep CLEAN
and change nectar at least once a week.  NEVER let them run out-If
you have attrated lots of hummingbirds to the yard, and the feeder
goes dry without additional plantings of hummingbird plants, you can
cause serious problems.  Having a feeder up is a serouis
committment.

Karen Sullivan
HUMMINGBIRD GARDENS NURSERY