f/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400, @ 400mm
The Humming birds are soon here, if not already, and it’s important when putting out feeders that we need to be vigilant about looking after them.
Humming birds have been known to die from fungal infection from poorly maintained feeders. Sugar ferments so the feeders should be cleaned weekly as a minimum, also the feed needs to be changed about every two (2) to three (3) days, and should be done more frequently, daily, in hot weather. If you follow this recommendation it will be easier to keep your feeder clean and the humming birds safe.
The preferred feed is a mixture of sugar and water with 1/4 cup sugar to 1 cup of water. The red food dye mixture you buy in the store is NOT recommended. It is not absolutely necessary to boil the water if you prepare the feed in small amounts and are not storing the mixture. However, to minimize chemicals in the water such as chlorine etc… you should boil the water for approximately 5 minutes, let it cool, and then mix with sugar. It is a good idea to wash your feeder at the same time with hot water, DO NOT use any form of soap or cleaner as the chemical residue may harm the Humming birds.
Glass feeders are better than plastic, and it’s good to keep the feeder out of direct sunlight to minimize deterioration of the feed.
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