Fall is the perfect time to attract one or more of the 21 species of hummingbirds to your yard.
Most North American hummingbirds are migratory. They migrate north in spring and make their way back
south every fall as daylight hours lessen, temperatures drop and nectar and other food sources begin to dry up.
Because of their size, metabolism and the extreme distances they have to cover, hummingbirds often face
starvation on their journey. Many species need to pack on fat as a portable energy source and some species
actually double their weight in preparation for their flight.
Feeding Tips:
To prepare sugar water for a feeder, mix one part sugar to four parts boiling water. Cool before pouring into
your hummingbird feeder. Store the extra mix in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Never use honey or artificial sweetener because both cause a fungal infection in the birds.
Change the sugar water in the feeders frequently, even if no birds are visiting the site. The "nectar" can spoil
quickly, sending a hummer away no matter how hungry it is.
Rinse the feeder thoroughly, without soap, before refilling.
Attracting Hummers Naturally:
The best thing you can do to attract hummingbirds to your yard is to add flowering plants to your landscape.
You can attract hummingbirds throughout the seasons by planting annuals and perennials with different
blooming periods. Almost anything red and tubular is a favorite. Pink and orange are also well liked by the birds.
As a rule, hummers pick flowers with lots of nectar and little fragrance. Some good native plants to include in
your landscaping are red honeysuckle, most varieties of sages or salvia, columbine, bee balm, cardinal flower,
trumpet creeper and scarlet monkey flower.
Do Away With Insecticides:
Insecticides can be harmful to hummingbirds. Most people think they feed exclusively on nectar,
but this isn't true.
Hummingbirds feed their young almost entirely on small insects and only a little nectar.
The adults need regular doses of protein from mosquitoes, spiders and gnats to round out their diet.
Water:
A constant source of water will complete your hummingbird haven. If you have a birdbath, place a couple of flat
rocks in it to give the tiny birds an opportunity to bathe. Any form of running water is a magnet to
hummingbirds.
Once hummingbirds discover your garden, they will remember it from year to year, so be hospitable and you can
welcome your feathered friends annually.
Most North American hummingbirds are migratory. They migrate north in spring and make their way back
south every fall as daylight hours lessen, temperatures drop and nectar and other food sources begin to dry up.
Because of their size, metabolism and the extreme distances they have to cover, hummingbirds often face
starvation on their journey. Many species need to pack on fat as a portable energy source and some species
actually double their weight in preparation for their flight.
Feeding Tips:
To prepare sugar water for a feeder, mix one part sugar to four parts boiling water. Cool before pouring into
your hummingbird feeder. Store the extra mix in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Never use honey or artificial sweetener because both cause a fungal infection in the birds.
Change the sugar water in the feeders frequently, even if no birds are visiting the site. The "nectar" can spoil
quickly, sending a hummer away no matter how hungry it is.
Rinse the feeder thoroughly, without soap, before refilling.
Attracting Hummers Naturally:
The best thing you can do to attract hummingbirds to your yard is to add flowering plants to your landscape.
You can attract hummingbirds throughout the seasons by planting annuals and perennials with different
blooming periods. Almost anything red and tubular is a favorite. Pink and orange are also well liked by the birds.
As a rule, hummers pick flowers with lots of nectar and little fragrance. Some good native plants to include in
your landscaping are red honeysuckle, most varieties of sages or salvia, columbine, bee balm, cardinal flower,
trumpet creeper and scarlet monkey flower.
Do Away With Insecticides:
Insecticides can be harmful to hummingbirds. Most people think they feed exclusively on nectar,
but this isn't true.
Hummingbirds feed their young almost entirely on small insects and only a little nectar.
The adults need regular doses of protein from mosquitoes, spiders and gnats to round out their diet.
Water:
A constant source of water will complete your hummingbird haven. If you have a birdbath, place a couple of flat
rocks in it to give the tiny birds an opportunity to bathe. Any form of running water is a magnet to
hummingbirds.
Once hummingbirds discover your garden, they will remember it from year to year, so be hospitable and you can
welcome your feathered friends annually.
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