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Re: still a five star establishment



Questions about the sugar water:  If you are using reverse osmosis filtered
water do you need to boil it before using in feeder?  Should you not use the
filtered water?  Do you need to boil ordinary tapwater?  Or let it sit
overnight?  Would it be better to use well water in a " just back of the marsh"
coastal area
In other words is there a preference here?
Thanks so much,   Beth Wiley

Janine Perlman wrote:

> Hi, Donna,
>
> I specialize in hummer and passerine nutrition.  For most hummers in the
> wild, adding anything to the sugar water may be more risky than helpful.
> They obtain all the nutrients they need from insects and natural nectar.
> Adding other nutrients to sugar water makes it a much better medium for
> growing pathogens, even if you do change and clean your feeders daily.
>
> A big factor, if you were to add anything, is solubility.  If it sits on the
> bottom, the hummers don't obtain it.  Also, there are some vitamins that are
> toxic in excess amounts; the birds' diets are generally balanced, in nature.
> An exception, of course, would be birds overwintering where they
> 'shouldn't'.
>
> There's an expensive product called NektarPlus that many zoos, etc. use.  A
> nutritional analysis reveals it's not all that good, and it would probably
> cost you $20 a day, at the rate you're going through sugar water.  Other
> products are likely to be even less helpful and more risky.
>
> I think you're 'serving' your hummers very well, just as you are!
>
> -Janine
>
> Janine Perlman, Hillsborough, NC
> fed. lic. migratory bird rehabilitator