Hummingbirds drink flower nectar, which is heavy in sugar to meet their energy needs. But over the last century, the native flowers they depend on have become less available. So what do we do? We hang hummingbird feeders. There are constant arguments about the wisdom of hummingbird feeders, with some telling you not to do it. Honestly, planting more native flowers would be a more natural solution, but that would take years and more acreage than you can contribute.
Experts say there's nothing wrong with hanging hummingbird feeders with sugar water in them. But there are some caveats. You should avoid commercial hummingbird food preparations, especially those with red dye. And when you leave sugar water out for days, it will attract bacteria and fungi, so it crucial to keep your bird feeder clean. Read about the dangers hummingbirds face when eating from a dirty feeder, and learn the right way to do it at Vox.
(Image credit: Alhill42)
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