Tube-Fed Tummy Buddies

Each spring, a hummingbird trio returns to our yard.  At the first sighting of these tube-fed buddies, Kyra and I are quick to clean up our feeder and whip up a batch of hummingbird food.  Then we sit on the deck.  And wait.

If we’re still enough, and patient enough, the hummingbirds will greet us with a quick fly-by.  First we hear a warm buzzing.  Then, if we’re lucky, we catch sight of a shimmer as the tiny birds dart around us and toward the feeder.

As I watch a hummingbird’s tube-like beak slurping nectar, it occurs to me that the general attitude toward feeding hummingbirds is remarkably similar to the general attitude toward feeding through a g-tube.  During the spring and summer, grocery and garden stores stock special “Hummingbird Nectar” in ready-to-feed bottles or instant-mix packets.  Seriously?  Do they really expect me to purchase a tiny packet of sugar for twice the price of an entire bag of sugar?  We know from experience that hummingbirds fill their tummies quite happily with our less expensive homemade mixture.  Similarly, medical supply stores sell sugar-laden, artificially-flavored, preservative-packed g-tube formula in powdered and canned forms for prices that far exceed the cost of fresh meats, veggies, nuts, and fruits.  Which, do you believe, is a better buy?  What do you choose to feed your tube-fed tummy?

If you’re interested in attracting hummingbirds to your yard, try this recipe:

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar

Heat the water and sugar in a saucepan until it begins to boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar.  Allow the mixture to cool, then fill your hummingbird feeder. You can use a purchased feeder, or make your own out of soda or water bottles.  One of my favorite youtube videos shows you how:

To increase your chances of hummingbird visits, add a bit of red near the site.  Tie a red ribbon nearby, or plant a few red flowers near your feeder.  Nothing special.  Nothing fancy.  Nothing artificial.

Finally, sit quietly near your feeder in the early morning and late afternoon, and wait patiently.  If the hummingbirds choose not to visit you, perhaps peace will.