Hummingbirds are one of nature's gifts. Watching hummers feed on flower nectar or from a backyard feeder can bring a smile to the grouchiest person.

While hummingbirds feed primarily on insects and nectar, they do enjoy sugar water. Here's my recipe for hummingbird food. It contains no red dye, because its just not necessary.

Hummingbird Food Recipe

1 part sugar
4 parts clean drinking water

Heat the water and sugar on medium heat. Do not allow it to boil. Heat just long enough to dissolve sugar. Pour into feeder of choice.

It's important to clean your feeder well and change the water every 2 or 3 days. If the sugar water ferments or gets a black fungus, it can harm the birds.

If you'd like to train your neighborhood hummingbirds, try raising fruit flies (dresofola) to feed the birds. Take one of those white five gallon buckets, you know the ones that cat litter, detergent, and so many other things come in these days.

Cut a two inch square from the middle of the top. Next, take enough panty hose material to cover the hole. Glue it in place over the opening you cut in the lid.

OK, you are ready to raise bugs. Throw a partially peeled banana or an over ripe apple into the bucket and leave the top off. In a few days you'll notice some fruit flies.

Replace the lid and let the bucket sit for another week or so. The flies will breed and multiply.

Now you're ready to train your hummingbirds. Note when your feeder is busy. Once you've determined a busy time, go out and remove the lid for a minute or so each day.

The birds will begin to notice the flies and get used to you being there. Eventually, if you keep it up, they will swoop down and feed the moment you open the lid.

It's a lot of fun. Add additional fruit to the bucket every couple weeks.

Sometimes hummingbirds get hurt. They accidently fly into windows, are attacked by cats, or just get sick.

When you happen upon a sick or injured hummingbird, first place it in a shoe box and keep it warm. Warmer than you think is comfy, but don't cook the little critter. Immediately call Project Wildlife at (619) 225-WILD.