Building a Hummingbird Feeder

Because hummingbirds drink nectar rather than eat seeds, attracting them takes a different kind of bird feeder. Using an empty water or soda bottle, you can make a sustainable hummingbird feeder that works as well as any store-bought version.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

X-Acto knife
20-oz. plastic soda or water bottle
Lightweight plastic resealable container with lid
1 foot of string or cord

Step 1

Cut two holes in the base of the bottle near the bottom on either side.

Step 2

Run the string through the holes in the bottle and tie a knot so that it makes a loop for hanging the feeder.

Step 3

Cut a flap in the bottom of the bottle. You will use this to fill the feeder with nectar.

Step 4

Cut four small holes in each corner of the plastic lid.

Step 5

Cut a 1-inch "X" in the center of the plastic lid. Push the neck of the bottle through the "X" as if you were inserting a straw.

Step 6

Fill the bottle with nectar and hang upside down on a branch or nail. The bottle will be upside down and the nectar will fill the container. The hummingbirds will drink from the four holes cut into the plastic container lid.

Tips & Warnings

You can make nectar by boiling 4 parts water with 1 part sugar. Allow to cool before filling.

Color your feeder red or use a red container to attract hummingbirds.

Some advocates claim that dye and food coloring may be harmful to hummingbirds. If you have any concerns, clear nectar will suffice.

Resources

Article Written By Anton Busch

Anton Busch earned a B.A. in English with honors from University of Iowa in 2007 and has been publishing content on the Web ever since. His creative and nonfiction works have appeared in print in "Hotel Amerika," "Earthwords," "Lux Magazine," "Quad City View" and "Verdure Magazine." He also writes for various websites.

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