The Intro
Ever since I was a little boy I marveled at the aerial speed of hummingbirds as well as the ability to hover for so long. I used to read, in my animal fact books, about how they were the only bird to be able to fly backwards and how the bee hummingbird was the smallest bird in the world and how it could fit entirely in the eyeball of the largest bird in the world. It wasn't until I started watching birds close up that I realized the beauty of the iridescent jewels. I now love to have hummingbirds in the yard and am always interested in knowing more about what would attract them. Obviously, flowers and feeders, but not just any flower will do. We are going to explore some flowering plants, feeders and more which you can add to your outdoor space to increase the chance of having the little flying powerhouses visit you.
The Fake Flower
Hummingbirds will take nectar from just about any port in a flower. This makes it very simple to hang a feeder alongside your porch and have the little birds visit. There are a couple items to remember, when setting out a feeder, that are very literally life or death for the hummingbird. The red dyes that are found in the commercial nectars are not good for the health of these guys. The red coloring is used as a marketing gimmick to attract us humans to buy more of the hummer juice. In reality, sugar water is all you need and is made with a 4:1 mixture of water to sugar. This is exactly the same formula as most store-bought elixirs. They do sell clear nectar now which is perfectly fine to feed your guests. The other part of the equation here is, the feeder that the birds are attracted to. The most common are the four-flower, upside down bottle versions, which work very well. Don’t forget to look for a feeder with a moat so that ants are somewhat deterred. Try not to use the yellow cages or flowers like shown in the picture, it only makes a wasp problem worse. Yellow is an attractant for these bothersome freeloaders. It is always nice to have a perch as well, as it gives the bird some rest while restoring energy. Be sure to clean your feeder regularly as a neglected feeder may grow unwanted bacteria and harm the birds. Cleaning should happen twice a week in the warmer weather. See more on Hummingbird Feeders here. Feeders are a great way to keep track of which birds are visiting your yards and gardens. There are 5 common types of Hummingbirds in The United States and Canada and several places in the south have several more. Don't forget to keep a list on eBird!
The Sweet Deal
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Flowering plants and Hummingbirds have had a deal struck for as long as can be remembered. “You give me some energy in the form of a sugary nectar and I will spread your pollen to make more flowers.” This is a win/win situation that works for both plant and animal. Every time one of the little birds slips his long beak into a flower, the stamen rubs against the visitor’s chin or forehead which places pollen where it is then transported to the next flower and left on the stigma pollinating the next generation. And you though bees were the end all, bee all of pollinating. The massive amount of calories in the nectar is what keeps the birds coming back. If you supply the right flowers in your yard, I am sure you will find the birds will not be far behind. I guess the question is, which flowers are the right flowers?
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The Heralding Trumpet
Flowers come in a multitude of shapes and colors. How do you know which flowers will attract hummingbirds to your backyard? I have put out nectar feeders and have had very little response and then found the birds more attracted to the flowers that were planted for esthetics. A personal observation that I have made is, the flowers that are more tubular are the ones that the hummingbirds are more attracted to. In other words, the ones that look more like trumpets than daisies. It doesn’t seem to matter how long the tube is as petunias seem to work just as well as honeysuckle. I am not sure if these flowers have more nectar than the others or that the bees just cant reach the nectar which leaves a larger reward for the hummingbird but either way, it seems that these are the chosen ones. Here are some of the flowers that seem to fit the bill when it comes to what a bird likes.
Honeysuckle
Bee Balm
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Salvia
Cardinal Flower
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Trumpet Creeper
Red Columbine
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Click on the photos
The Real Meal Deal
One commonly unknown fact about Hummingbirds is that they run their engines on protein. Nectar is only the high calorie shot needed to allow them to hunt for the food they really need. One analogy is: if protein is the gas in a car, then nectar is the shot of nitro that gives that extra boost. So what kind of protein are a hummingbird’s favorite you ask? Spiders, yes spiders are one of the birds favorite foods. Not only do they top the menu, but the webs of these eight-legged critters are the basis for building a hummingbird nest. They typically weave lichen together with spiders silk to make a small cup on a somewhat precarious perch. In order to attract more hummingbirds, its important to have the spiders and other insects living in your garden. It is highly recommended to seriously limit pesticides or remove them from the garden all together. These are very hardy little birds, but poisons will affect them quickly.
The Fountain of Eden
You probably don’t think of a fountain as the way to attract a hummingbird, but if it is the right fountain, you will be shocked at how often it is visited. One thing to remember when setting up a hummingbird fountain is that they have very small feet. They will have a shower mid-air in a fine mist or a bubbling stream, but to actually land and have a bird bath, you need to have a place where the water is running over a rock or an object that isn’t more than 1/8th of and inch deep. There are a couple fountains that work well for this and have been highlighted in several videos on the net. Click the link to The Bird Blogger site for some suggestions.
The Finish
Gardens with beautiful flowers are a sight, but to have the a garden full of living, breathing animals is just as beautiful and captivating. By adding a flower garden that is geared to attracting the birds is most certainly the best way to keep them coming, but there is also hummingbird feeders, fountains and food that ensure you light up the garden with the little gems we call hummingbirds.
