Hummingbirds have been spotted in St. Louis...

If you fill it, they will come...

I know that it is chilly outside, but it is time to clean and fill your feeders, St. Louis!  Sightings have happened in our area already, despite the inconsistent temperatures we have had this Spring...

Did you know that hummingbirds have the fastest metabolism of any animal on the planet, burning between 1-2x their body weight in food every day?  As a result, they feed constantly.  I am a huge proponent for making your own nectar.  Just make sure feeders are well cleaned (NO DETERGENT, just scrubbing with water) and changed regularly!

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe:

For 2 feeders, I boil 2 cups of water in a glass measuring cup. Add 1/4 cup of white sugar and stir until dissolved. A basic 4 to 1 ratio is key, no matter how much nectar you make. Let it sit on your counter top until 100% cool and then fill your feeders. I only add a drop of red dye in the beginning of the season until they spot and revisit the feeder. Then, I don't bother.  Change the nectar every 4-5 days. 

NOTE: it can take weeks to get a steady flow of birds to a feeder, so don't give up.