To get more hummingbirds, I had to sweeten the deal.

A few weeks into summer, I noticed a green-backed hummingbird hovering outside my kitchen window — staring at me.

Oops. Forgot to put the feeder out!

I whipped up a homemade recipe of sugar water. It called for a 1:4 sugar to water ratio. Once full, I hung the small tube in the same spot as last year.

I waited. Nothing.

Maybe they’re coming when I’m not watching?

But, the full feeder exposed the truth.

Great. My kids don’t eat my cooking and neither do the damn birds!

I made a new batch and increased my sugar content to a 1:3 ratio. And I noticed the tiny openings were filled with gunk.

Well, no wonder.

I put the cleaner, sweeter feeder out a few days ago. It’s almost gone. Victory!

By Adrienne Parkhurst — Hummingbird Whisperer