I've always boiled the water before adding sugar for hummingbird "nectar"
(i.e. the sugar-water I put in the hummingbird feeder). This is because the
instructions I read said to do it. But I'm wondering whether it's enough
just to use the water from an insta-hot (one of those in-sink water heaters
that deliver water at about 180 degrees). Is the boiling intended to kill
some sort of microorganisms or somehow change the chemical structure of the
nectar, or is it just for the purpose of speeding up the dissolution of the
sugar? Does anyone know?



Barbara Miller

Bellevue, Washington

Bmill07 AT Comcast DOT net