Here Come the Hummingbirds
by Colleen Williams
For this part of the country, the first sightings of hummingbirds take place in April. So if you are lucky, you have already seen these fluttery creatures around town and maybe even enjoyed them in your own backyard. If not, and you are interested in attracting these jewels of the sky, here are some tips and a few tid-bits you may not have known.
Tip 1: Feed them.
Like every living thing, Hummers need to eat too. They spend so much energy flapping those wings, that they need fuel to keep them going. Hummingbirds love to eat insects and spiders which provide them with protein and other nutrients. But they need energy to keep them going after those little suckers. Start by providing them with a feeder filled with nectar or sugar water which will keep their metabolism going strong. Don’t worry if they don’t feed right away. Hummingbirds simply need to familiarize themselves with your feeder. Once you have one bird coming to it, more will follow. If you are switching feeders, try leaving the old feeder hanging empty next to the new one, they may not feed immediately but they will adapt. These birds are curious and they will learn to use your nectar feeders, just give it time.
Tip 2: Create a hummingbird garden in your own back yard!
Hummingbirds feed by sight on regularly-followed routes but their inquisitive nature will quickly lead them to investigate any possible new source of food. If you plan carefully and select a variety of plants that flower at successively later dates, you will be rewarded with happy hummers throughout the season. Stay away from pesticides. Killing garden pests will also eliminate the small insects hummingbirds rely upon for protein. In addition, hummers might directly ingest pesticides sprayed onto flowers, which could sicken or kill the birds. Since hummers, like most birds, have virtually no sense of smell, the flowers that attract them are vibrant in color with high nectar production. Note also that cultivated hybrids often make much less nectar than wild strains. Come see our Garden Center (behind the Rock) for suggestions specific to our climate and area, but here are just a few of the best plants to look for when you’re planning a hummingbird garden:
Shrubs: Azalea, Butterfly Bush (Buddleia), Honeysuckle, Weigela
Vines: Morning Glory, Trumpet Creeper
Perennials: Bee Balm, Columbine, Hosta, Lupine
Annuals: Fuchsia, Impatiens, Petunias, Salvia
Not only will you attract hummingbirds with these plants, but your back yards will look great too!
Tip 3: Feeder Maintenance
If you are hanging a feeder it does require a maintenance routine. If you are not ready for this, then you could still plant a hummingbird garden and attract these beautiful birds with less maintenance. But let’s say you are feeding them. Start by keeping you feeder clean. Hummers hate spoiled feeder syrup and/or a dirty feeder. They will abandon your yard for more reliable food sources elsewhere. So, with each filling, flush the feeder with hot water. You can use a feeder cleaning brush for problem areas. DO NOT USE SOAP! Hummingbirds don’t like the taste of it but if you need it cleaner try using bleach. Inspect the feeder for Black mold, and if you regrettably find some, a bleach soak is the best way to remove the mold. (Bleach soaking= 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon water –soak feeder for 1 hour then clean with brush –rinse well. This process should be done once a moth anyway. Bleach is both safe and effective.) Spoiled sugar solutions will look cloudy, and then the food needs to be replaces HINT: When the temperature is over 80 degrees (F), clean and refill every three or four days. Over 90°F, it might spoil in two days.
Deny bees & wasps access to the syrup. Get a feeder with bee guards. There are a number of different styles of feeders out there with this effective feature and are all are and easy to clean.
Are ants getting into your feeder? Try an Ant Moat or the Nectar Protector. Both of these products will keep ants out of your feeder while maintaining their availability to the birds. (Yummy snack)
Tip 4: Taking you feeder down for the season
It’s a myth that hummingbirds won’t migrate if your feeder is left out past Labor Day. Hummingbirds know when it’s time to leave. It’s possible to see them through early October as they head south. They migrate in response to hormonal changes, which are triggered by decreasing length of daylight. Hummers will need to fatten up to nearly double normal body weight to survive the journey south. So leaving you feeder up a bit longer will be greatly appreciated by these little guys. Continue to leave one feeder out for a week or two after seeing your last hummingbird of the season in case of late migrants or stragglers, and then it should be safe to take down.
Hummingbirds are great little creatures to have around, and if you feed them, you know what I’m talking about. If not, think about inviting these birds into your back yard. They are definitely worth the effort.
