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Using Hummingbird Feeders is the best way to attract the smallest species of birds. Here is an overview on how to use these feeders, attract hummingbirds into your backyard and keep them healthy and buzzing with life. There are many feeders available that are designed to attract these birds. Most feeders available for these creatures are made of plastic, glass and ceramics. You might find animal shaped bird feeders made specifically for humming birds, but the most common feeders come in either basin-style or inverted bottle styles. There are even miniature hummingbird feeders available. One factor to consider in deciding which style of feeder to purchase is the ease of cleaning and deconstruction. The dish or basin style works really well, it allows more birds to feed at one time, provides for easier cleaning, and also offers other features like nectar guards and insect moats. These design features keep other insects away. The size of feeder depends on the number of hummingbirds you'd like to feed. There are a wide variety of sizes available, ranging from 10 to 12 ounces. You should remember that hummingbirds are quite territorial, so it might be better to just provide a number of small feeders around your area to prevent one bird from dominating the others. Hummingbirds normally feed on insects and nectar, so you should aim to provide a supplement to their natural diet. Commercial nectar or syrup mixes are available, but are not needed. You can make your own nectar mix by adding 1 part table sugar to 4 parts water. You can use distilled water if you like. This kind of nectar solution will usually stay fresh for 2 weeks if kept in the refrigerator. Please avoid using honey or sugar substitutes as your sweetener. Honey ferments easily when mixed with water, and might cause your hummingbirds to fall ill or worse, dead! Adding red dye to your solution is unnecessary and also potentially harmful to the hummingbirds. *Reminder: Nectar solutions spoil easily when exposed to the sun, so please remember to change your solution on a regular basis. Spoiled solutions should be thrown out and never be kept for reuse. If the temperature is high, you may need to change your solution more often. As for location, it is best for feeders to be placed out in open areas, if possible, near flowering plants. You may move your feeder once hummingbirds have started to visit it, but this must be done gradually. It is advisable to keep the feeder out of direct sun and wind, to maintain freshness and protect the birds from harsh winds. You should also make sure to keep your feeders at a place far from pets, especially cats. You can also put your feeders at an area near your window but make sure to put something on the glass to discourage your hummingbirds from flying straight into them. You can put some blinds or curtains inside, or some cutouts or decorative flags outside your window. Most feeders come in a bright red color. This attracts the hummingbirds and encourages them to feed off your feeding station. But if your feeder doesn't come with any red decorations, you can decorate it yourself using red nail polish to paint the area near the openings. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned each time you change the sugar solution. This should be done every 3 to 4 days, or if the nectar becomes cloudy or contaminated with dirt and insects. If the temperature outside is high, changing the nectar should be done more often. Never use soap to clean your feeder! Instead, use hot tap water and a brush. Hummingbirds don't like the taste of soap, but if you do use soap, bleach helps remove the taste. A bleach soak will also rid your feeder of any mold. This should be done at least once a month for a thorough cleaning. Vinegar may also be used to clean your feeders, just make sure to rinse it thoroughly to completely remove all traces of vinegar. Hummingbird feeders may attract other insects as well. You can try using feeders with built in "bee guards" or you can also put oil or petroleum jelly on the area outside the feeding holes. These suggestions are not foolproof but may decrease the number of insects visiting your feeder. Try to reduce the amount of pesticide you use when you start inviting hummingbirds into your backyard. Hummingbirds eat insects as well. Pesticides might decrease the insect population in your garden, or kill plants that produce the kind of flowers that hummingbirds feed on. The birds are also vulnerable to the pesticides themselves. You should also avoid spraying these pesticides anywhere near the feeders, as they can be dangerous when applied to the area where these birds feed. |
