Even if you live in the middle of a town or a city, you can attract hummingbirds to your garden. Some simple steps and adjustments in your garden will make it more hummingbird friendly and you will be rewarded with their arrival year after year alongwith their young ones.
Setting up hummingbird feeders is a great way to attract them. The feeders should be filled with artificial sugar water solution made at home. Some red flowers can be hanged on a basket or planted near the feeders. This will make it easier for the birds to find the feeders, as they will be attracted to the red flowers. It should be remembered that these birds only rely on sites to find their food source as they do not have any sense of smell.
You should remember that none of the above mentioned plants needs to be red colored, though red color is attractive to the hummingbirds. After growing the plants, avoid using pesticides for killing the insects as the insects can serve as good sources of protein to the birds. The pesticides if ingested by the hummers can kill or sicken them.
You should use the standard sugar water solution for feeding the hummingbirds. Make this solution at home which you can store in the refrigerator for a week. Avoid using honey or sugar substitutes for feeding the birds which can harm them, as honey promotes a fatal fungal disease and sores in the mouth of hummingbirds. Placing the feeder in a shady and cool spot will prevent the nectar’s spoilage.
Planting a hummingbird garden with their favorite plants will attract more and more of the birds. A few plants which you can consider planting are manzanita, butterfly busch, azalea, honeysuckle, bee balm, coral bells, columbine, cardinal flowers, petunia, shrimp plant, etc. You should note that none of these plants have to be red colored to attract the birds. Also, you can check with your local nursery if having any doubts, whether any of them will flourish in your garden area.
Never try using artificial sweeteners or honey for feeding the hummingbirds. The quick fermentation of honey in the feeder can cause sores in the birds’ mouth or promote a fatal fungal disease. You have to clean the feeders and change the nectar solution every 3-4 days, or more frequently if the weather is hot. Use a good bottle brush to clean the inside of your feeder if any mold formation occurs. Some sand and water can also be added inside the feeder and shaken to remove these molds. Instead of using soaps and detergents, you can use hot water with little white vinegar to wash and rinse the feeders, as the birds do not like any traces of soap.
Your garden and feeders can be invaded by insects like ants and bees which can drive away the hummingbirds. Using nectar protectors, moats and feeders with built-in bee guards will prevent this, and ensure the continued arrival of the hummingbirds.
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