Date: 6/8/26 7:37 am From: Dennis Demcheck via groups.io <demcheck86...> Subject: [labird] For hummer gardeners
Bill, Paul, Nancy, and others
Yes I'm still out there and still getting nectar readings with my trusty Brix refractometer. It is gratifying that the nectar concentrations I investigated over 20 years ago (has it been that long?) have held up to scrutiny.
I have downplayed this subject the last few years when I give general-audience hummingbird talks because I have gotten annoyed at being misquoted or misinterpreted. I met a person at a nature event and he said, "I've heard of you. You're the guy who says our 1:4 hummingbird feeder solutions are too low". Grrrrr.... I never said that. I spent some time and energy trying to make the point that naturally-occuring nectar sugar more concentrated than 1:4 is widespread in nature and especially common in dedicated hummingbird gardens. But somehow what to me is a simple message kept going awry.
I also tried to dispute the birdlore that concentrations greater than 1:4 are actually harmful to hummingbirds, up to and including liver damage. That's just not true. There is zero evidence of this. Sheri Williamson has investigated this fallacy and has an excellent 2022 Youtube video interview on this subject ; The Hummingbird Spot at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5x4A8Db6HA. At least we all agree that hummingbirds do not migrate on the backs of geese.
Thanks Nancy, Bill, and Paulall for mentioning me.
