We’ve had a lot of people ask us questions about nectar and nectar feeders. We’ve decided to write a post explaining everything we know about nectar. Our information is based on research done by Dr Mark Brown (an ornithologist who has studied nectar feeding birds and what makes up the natural nectar they feed on for well over 15 years), Elaine Reed (an avid birder and Owner of Elaine’s Birding and Wildlife Products), her personal experience and research of birds for over 20 years, and our own experience.
Where to place the Nectar Feeder?
To help the birds find your nectar feeder, initially place the nectar feeder in your “bird feeding zone,” where all your other feeders are situated. Always ensure it is a shady spot as food and nectar will last longer out of the sun. Usually Bulbuls, Weavers and White Eyes will be attracted to your nectar first, if it starts to take a while, do not despair. Simply move the feeder to different positions in your garden. Birds don’t mind if you move your feeder around, as long as you keep it full.
Do I need to add dye/food colouring to the mixture to attract Sunbirds?
A very common question, with the answer being no! Food colouring is an additive that is not found in nature, so why give it to your birds? Your nectar should be clear. It is true, that Sunbirds are attracted to colour, which is one of the reasons why flowers are so colourful. Rather use a nectar feeder that contains colour, for example, a red lid that will entice the Sunbirds to drink.
Which birds can I expect to attract to the Nectar Feeder?
Birds that visit garden nectar feeders fall into two groups:
Specialist nectarivores, such as Sunbirds and Sugarbirds.
Generalist nectarivores, such as Bulbuls, Starlings, White Eyes, Weavers, Drongos, Boubous, Sparrows and Orioles.
As mentioned previously, it is usually the White Eyes, Weavers and Bulbuls that get to the feeder first.
Do nectarivores pollinate flowers?
Nectar birds are very important pollinators of flowers. According to DR Mark Brown, although research has been conducted on the specialist nectarivores for almost a century, very little work has been done on the preferences of the generalist nectarivores, mainly because they were not considered important pollinators. We now know differently: There are many plant species, especially in Southern Africa, that are pollinated not by the specialist nectarivores, but rather by birds that visit flowers less frequently.
What do I do about bees?
Sugar attracts bees, often they will end up getting stuck inside the nectar nozzle which can cause some irritation, and the death of the bees. For this reason we supply Elaine’s Nectar Feeders which come with a good quality bee guard to prevent bees from getting trapped.
What nectar solution do I put in the nectar feeder?
The most common question of all; we decided to save the best till last. Firstly, forget about all these “recipes” that contain all sorts of additives such as Beetroot, Soy, Bovril, Syrup and honey as these are very difficult for birds to digest. Flowers that birds feed on contain three types of sugar, in varying amounts. Most contain sucrose (table sugar) and some contain glucose and fructose as a mix (which are the monosaccharide sugars that make up sucrose). Birds have evolved to digest sugars found in nectar, which are sucrose, glucose and fructose. So nectar mixes and sugar water is prefect for the birds.
So, how much sugar water to add into the nectar feeders? The best option is a 15–25 per cent solution of plain table sugar (sucrose), which is easy to prepare and does not ferment quickly in the sun. This mixture best emulates what is produced naturally from flowers.
Elaine’s Birding Nectar Mix is specifically formulated to offer birds a very natural Nectar Mix; we recommend her Nectar Mix as the best option for the birds.
I hope we have covered all of your nectar questions, and that you have enjoyed our Nectar Questions & Answers blog.
We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions please feel free to comment below or to email us, it may be that your question is one we can add to the blog if we have not yet covered it.
I know of 3 susar birds dying after leaving a feeder filled with sucrose water. Surely fructose is the best product from which to make the solution? Sucrose comes from sugar cane which birds do not access and must be different from fructose.
I know of 3 susar birds dying after leaving a feeder filled with sucrose water. Surely fructose is the best product from which to make the solution? Sucrose comes from sugar cane which birds do not access and must be different from fructose.
Thank you for the comment Shahida. This does happen and results in many drowning bees. We provide a small net that one places between the bent part of the nozzle (made from PTFE), and the “stopper” (a food grade rubber) to stop bees entering. You could also use a small button with nectar seeping through the holes. This permits bees to drink and leave without harm (much as they would do at a nectar filled flower), and will not deter the sun birds from having their turn. You could also try to weaken the mixture (down to 1:10) if you need to stop bees drinking.
Lots of birds were feeding off my sugar water bottles..then the bees arrived in hoards..found lots dead in the bottle..chased away the Cape White eyes..Starlings..Sunbirds..lots of yellow flowers in my garden and see lots of bees buzzing around.lI also hang bananas round the feeders..the birds loved them..how can I get rid of the bees..I know they are good..but. I have little Poms and Maltese so do not want to encourage too many bees with saucers of sugared water for them. Are birds scared of bees. Some tips would be helpful. Many Thanks
Please help, the weavers are drinking all the nectar, I have two large bottles and put them out twice a day and that’s still not enough, I must admit though I have about 20 sugar birds, and sometimes up to 11 Cape Sugar birds at the feeders.. but the weavers are driving me insane they just don’t stop… how can I deter them…