"I want to make sure that people know how to prepare the sugar water to feed them. If it is too sweet, it causes liver damage, and if it's made with honey, it causes fungus to grow in their throat."
A resident of Cranks, Allen is particularly concerned that many of her neighbors have been making the nectar to go in their hummingbird feeders out of Kool-Aid.
"Kool-Aid is not a good source of calories," Allen stresses. "It has preservatives in it, and I'm not sure that it is really even safe for humans."
Referring to her extensive collection of books and newspaper articles about hummingbirds, Allen is well versed on the proper way to feed them.
"Use one cup of pure cane sugar to four parts water. The water needs to be boiled, too," she explains.
According to Allen, it is extremely important to use sugar that is from the cane, and not from beets or other sources.
"I recommend Domino's, because it doesn't clump like other sugars I have used."
To prevent nectar from spoiling, Allen suggests that feeders be cleaned every few days with hot, soapy water, especially during summer.
She also recommends filling one's yard with tubular flowers, especially bee balm, which is a wonderful hummingbird attraction.
Allen took up the hobby of feeding hummingbirds 18 years ago when she was introduced to it by a friend.
"She told me about seeing hummingbird feeders. We couldn't find them here so we went all the way to Fort Henry Mall and bought two."
Although faded, both of her original feeders are still hanging on the front porch.
Feeding hummingbirds is a relatively new hobby for Allen, who has been an avid wildlife enthusiast for over 50 years.
"I've always fed the winter birds, and the squirrels, and any other little creature that comes along."
Her daughter, Jill Craig, agrees, "She has a great love of nature. She is so tender for the squirrels, that she even cracks the nuts before she lays them out to eat."
Allen's fondness for birds and other animals is evident all around her home. In addition to a variety hummingbird feeders, she also maintains two water gardens (one of which is home to her pet frog), several bluebird boxes and four bat houses, which were built by her husband, Ed.
A little farther away from her house, there is also a pet cemetery with a handmade monument naming all the pets her family has lost.
In the past, Allen, who is 81, enjoyed capturing her encounters with nature on camera. Inside her home there are several framed wildlife photographs, including a close-up of a dragon fly perched on the tip of her finger. Unfortunately Allen is no longer able to capture her "critters" on film due to failing eyesight,.
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