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Hummingbird Feeders

Click here to see our selection of Hummingbird Feeders.
Hummingbird Feeders

In recent years, interest in hummingbirds (also known as hummers) has increased dramatically throughout the United States.  Those little feeders with red adornments have grown increasingly popular in backyards across the country and manufacturers are following suit to put more alternatives on the market.  Feeders for these tiny avian powerhouses can be hand-made out of an IV bottle, plastic tubing and rubber stopper or they can be purchased as ornate works of art that add character and charm to your backyard.  A large variety of inexpensive, simple, plastic feeders are available at your local hardware store, garden center or through the internet. While there are many options to choose from, we recommend one that complements the appearance of your particular yard and one that is easily cleaned and refilled.  Feeders also come with single or multiple feeding ports which can accommodate more than one bird at a time.

Hummingbird Feeders Image

Hummers have the fastest metabolism of any animal in the world as evidenced by their typical consumption of up to 2/3 of their body weight in any given day.  Their natural diet consists of nectar (or sugar) found in flowers and insects.  In reality, these amazing little creatures can actually survive on their own without the assistance of our feeders; they simply accommodate the human need for entertainment and make us provide a little sugar water as the price of admission.  The nectar used to feed for these birds is simply a mixture of plain white sugar and water.  This nectar can be purchased pre-made from the store or very simply made at home by mixing 1 part white sugar with 4 parts water.  It is recommended to use bottled water if your tap water has a high content of chlorine.  This home-made nectar should be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.  There is no need to add red coloring to the nectar since there is suspicion that the red dyes can harm the birds (this is not proven to date, but why take the risk).  The red flowers typically found on the feeders are enough to attract them.

The common Ruby-throated Hummingbird normally arrives in the eastern portions of the United States in March but as early as January in the warmer states such as Florida.  Anna’s Hummingbird is a particular species found in the western portion of the United States that does not migrate at all.  Hummingbird feeders should be hung approximately two weeks prior to their expected arrival.  Initially, feeders should be filled only half-way until the hummingbirds have found it and use it as a reliable source of nourishment.  Once the hummers claim your feeder as their personal territory, you can go ahead and fill the feeder in accordance with their rate of consumption.

It is important to clean the feeders every few weeks and especially when you start to see signs of mold. The mold might not hurt them, but nectar tends to spoil after a few weeks so this is a good time for cleaning.  The nectar can spoil in as few as 3-4 days in the hot sun.  Cloudy nectar is also an indication that it is spoiled and therefore emptied and the feeder cleaned.  Clean your feeder by discarding any remaining nectar and rinsing with hot water and scrubbing it out with a bottle brush.  Do not use soap to clean your feeder.  If necessary, you can soak with feeder in a 10% bleach solution to remove mold and destroy bacteria.  While spoiled nectar might not pose harm to the hummingbird, it might make them dine elsewhere until conditions improve to their liking.

Hummingbird feeders are best placed near brightly colored red flowers that might also attract them.  Once they discover your feeder, the hummers will continue to return even after the blooms disappear.  You might also try to place them within view of your window so that you can enjoy watching their activity.  Because these creatures are very territorial, we recommend that you place feeders in multiple locations throughout your yard that are out of sight from each other. Hummers will actually fight each other for the rights to your feeder.

Ants will likely find your feeder unless you employ such defensive measures as an ant moat that is filled with water and ensures the demise of the ants before they can make it to the sweet nectar.  The moat is placed between the upper hook of the feeder and the vessel that contains the nectar to block passage of the ants.  The moats can be purchased at the same stores that sell hummingbird feeders and nectar or they can be constructed at home with the lid of a spray paint can, wire and hot glue.

Contrary to popular belief, hummingbirds will still migrate even though the feeders are still in place and stocked with fresh nectar.  The hummers know it is time to migrate when daylight hours begin to diminish significantly.  In the eastern portions of the U.S. the male hummers are mostly gone by the middle of October and won’t return again until the following spring.  Your feeders still provide a welcome rest stop during this migration, but the end of October is really the end of the season.  This is a great time to enjoy your photos of these amazing little creatures and begin making plans for them to return the following spring.

 

Click here to see our selection of Hummingbird Feeders.