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Sunday, June 21, 1998 Page:
Be mindful of hummingbirds’ health
Editor:
The San Diego Zoo has found that hummingbirds who ingested nectar
containing red food coloring produced baby birds that were blind, deformed or
had shells that would not openSo, people with hummingbird feeders should make
their own nectar instead of buying the commercially packaged stuff with the
red dye.
Mix four parts of boiling water to one part of sugar. Make sure the sugar
is dissolved.
A feeder should be of simple design and cleaned about every four days.
Scrub it out with a bottle brush and hot water (no soap). A dirty feeder or
old nectar will harbor fungi or bacteria which cause souring or fermentation
of the nectar. As a result, a hummingbird can die.
The best way to lure hummingbirds into your garden is by planting some of
their favorite flowers! In the spring