Expert: Julia Booth - 8/24/2010

Question
I accidently fed hummingbirds cranberry juice, they didn't drink it much but it took me 4 days to figure out what was wrong, I think they were just trying it here and there but not completely consuming it... Will this make them sick?

Answer
I have never done it. But many birders apparently fill their oriole feeders with non-sweetened cranberry juice.

My only concern would be the preservatives. But I have no idea if or in what way they would adversely affect hummingbirds. They may have no effect at all.

The hummingbird's metabolism is so fast that any preservatives they might consume, will probably be out of their system in a matter of hours.

I had a friend who filled his hummingbird feeders with Mountain Dew, just to see what would happen. The birds drank it. But as far as I know, none of them became ill as a result. Not that I'm suggesting people do this, mind you. I'm just saying, I don't think you need to worry.

If you need more help, let me know



Julia