Hello! And welcome to King of Hummingbirds!

This blog is all about how to attract hummingbirds and feed them for your enjoyment.

Watching these tiny miracles of nature cavort in the neighbourhood is something I've enjoyed for years, and now I have my very own hummingbird feeder, I can play a small part in the hummingbirds' world.

 Let's get going!

first thing you're going to need is a hummingbird feeder. You can make your own, or you can go with any manner of manufactured feeders. These range from elaborate, artisan-crafted units to mass-produced ones which don't dent the pocketbook quite so much.

Hummingbirds are attracted to the bright colours found in many flowers, particularly the colour red. So it's important to find a feeder that has a red element to it.

I went with a simple red plastic feeder with four bright yellow flower-shaped perches. I sure hope that will be enough for the legions of birds I'm expecting!

Hummingbirds don't eat seed - they drink nectar! That's why their little beaks are like straws. Most hummingbird feeder kits come with a small amount of nectar powder which you mix with water. Often this mix has red food colouring in it, which some people believe isn't good for the birds. The best kind of nectar for hummingbirds is a simple mixture of one part pure sugar to four parts water. Natural, unprocessed sugar is best if you can get it.

Boil the water/sugar mixture on your stove, stirring occasionally. That will keep the sugar suspended in the water, and provide a consistently delicious meal for your colourful little friends.

In the unlikely event you have food left over a day or so after filling the feeder, it's important to change it regularly, or it will start to mold. Also, the longer it sits, the more likely it is to attract wasps, and nobody likes wasps.

I decided to take a cup of sugar and four cups of water, so i will ahve a lot of feed standing-by in the fridge instead of having to boil a small amount every day. I sure hope six cups of nectar will be enough!

The photo attached is my feeder, filled with nectar and hanging from a second-floor window waiting for the hummingbirds! Stay tuned for the next update!