Attracting Hummingbirds to your Backyard

backyardbirding — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:35:27 CST

Hummingbirds

In the United States, you can find over 16 kinds of hummingbirds. For people east of the Rockies, the most prevalent by far is the Ruby-Throated hummingbird. In fact, the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is the most widely distributed of the world’s 338 species of Hummingbirds, all of which occur ONLY in the Western Hemisphere.

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is often found between woodland and meadow. However, it has adapted well to human development, but only if there is shelter, space and food. Thus, it is frequently seen in suburban backyards with mature trees and shrubs, in wooded parks, and around farmsteads.

The keys to attracting hummingbirds are to provide food, help for nesting, and misters (water) for them to fly through.

Hummingbird Food:
We use an artificial nectar recipe of one part ordinary white cane sugar to four parts water. You will need to boil the water for several minutes before measuring can retard spoilage in the hummingbird feeder by a day or two; if you measure first, some will boil away and ruin the proportions. Stir in the sugar while the water is still hot and of course you should let it cool before filling the hummingbird feeder. If you have made more nectar than the feeder can hold, you can store the unused nectar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. This mixture approximates the average sucrose content (about 21%) of the flowers favored by North American Hummingbirds.

Nesting:
A hummingbird nest is not much bigger than a quarter, and often it contains just 2 to 3 eggs no bigger than small peas. It’s typically hard to see, as it blends in well to the tree branch it’s attached to, and is made of fine animal or plant down and moss or lichens. Hummingbirds have been proven to really take to a product called “Hummer Helper” Nesting Material which provides a natural replacement for some hard to find materials.

Water:
Hummingbirds like many birds, need and are attracted to “water.” One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds is with a mister that emits a fine spray.

Did you know…?
Hummingbirds are extremely loyal to feeding sites. A hummingbird that feeds in your yard one year will return to that feeder the next. If you aren’t attracting as many hummers as you want follow the hints above. As the male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is so territorial, one key is to offer lots of feeders. YourBirdOasis has over a dozen different types of hummingbird feeders. No matter which feeder you decide to use it is imperative that you keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh. Hummingbirds will keep their distance from fermented nectar… wouldn’t you? Perhaps hummers understand that they need a clear head for their acrobatic flying. Fermented nectar can support the growth of deadly molds. If a hummingbird gets a taste of fermented nectar from your feeder, it will look elsewhere for a drink and remain suspicious of the offending feeder for a long time.

Frequently Asked Questions:
We often get asked the following from those who feed hummers:

Q. How can I keep Bees and Wasps away from my feeders?
A. Use a Flat Top Feeder (Best One, Droll Yankee, Aspects – found at www.yourbirdoasis.com), where the nectar is not at the feeding port – hummers will be able to reach the nectar but wasps and bees cannot. Another tip – Put Avon’s “Skin So Soft” on the opening of your feeder.

Q. How can I keep Ants out of my hummingbird feeder?
A. Buy a new feeder with “Nectar Guard Tips” or hang a Nectar Protector Ant Moat above your feeder and fill it with water (ants can’t swim)! Our favorite combo is a Best One Feeder or Bird Company Feeder with a Clear Nectar Protector Ant Moat above it. Easy to fill and clean which means no ants and lots of hummers!

Fun Hummer Facts:

Hummingbirds beat their wings about 78 times per second. During a display dive, their wings can beat up to 200 times per second.
They take about 250 breaths per minute.
They have 1,500 feathers.
They consume half their body weight (1/8 lb) in food every day. That would be like an average kid eating about 40 to 50 pounds of food a day!
During migration, they must fly 500 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico to reach their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. To make the trip, they must eat enough so they weigh 1 ½ times their usual weight.
They can fly at speeds of 60 miles per hour and can fly forwards, backwards, up, down, sideways, and even upside down briefly, but they cannot walk.
Average life span of a hummer is 3 to 5 years.
Maximum life span is 12 years.

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backyardbirding — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:29:30 CST

We are bird enthusiasts who truly enjoy the pleasures of watching birds nest, feed, or bathe in in our backyards. Bird watching is a wonderful hobby to share with children. There are so many backyard birding projects that are both educational and fun. In addition, bird watching can be a major source of stress relief. There is nothing like sitting on your porch with a cup of coffee watching bird eat seed and listening to their beautiful song. This site will be dedicated to helping people attract birds to their backyards, bird watching, birding product reviews on bird houses, bird feeders, and bird baths, and birding projects.

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