Feeding the "Hummers" Hummingbirds are high-maintenance guests, but they are well worth the trouble. A well-placed feeder will bring you hours of entertainment and wonder as these miniature marvels hover and feed.
There are a variety of hummingbird feeder styles. Select a feeder that is red, the color that attracts these tiny guests. Consider ease of feeder refilling and most importantly cleaning. Your feeder should be washed every time you fill it, using dishwashing liquid and very hot water.
Cleanliness is the most important aspect of hummingbird feeding. Moldy feeders or fermented sugar solutions are dangerous to the birds' health. Offer only as much food as the birds eat in two to three days. During hot weather or when you have a large flock of feeding hummers, you'll need to fill the feeder daily.
To fill your feeders, use a convenient nectar mix. Or you may make your own sugar solution, if time permits. Add one part sugar to four parts water, boil and then cool. It can be stored in the refrigerator if you choose to make several days solution at one time. Do not make stronger sugar solutions because they can cause the birds to dehydrate. Never use artificial sweeteners. And do not use honey because it contains a mold that can affect the birds' tongues.
Some experts feel it is not advisable to add artificial coloring to the feeding solution. Artificial coloring may be associated with birth defects in hummingbirds. The red coloring on the feeder is adequate for attracting the birds. You may even consider adding some red flowering plants that are known to attract hummingbirds to your yard.
As the season progresses, you may find you have a growing crowd of hungry hummingbirds. They use sugar water as a supplement to their natural diet of flower nectar and tiny insects. If you find that a single, male hummingbird is monopolizing the feeder, add additional feeders to your yard. If ants are a problem, try a dab of petroleum jelly, baby oil or mineral oil applied to the feeder wire. The slippery material keeps them from gaining a foothold on their way to rob the feeder. When they start to make their way past the barrier, reapply!
When fall migration comes, feeding tapers off. Keep your feeders filled for about a week after you've seen your last visitor. Then, clean the feeder and bring it in for the winter. After all, spring and your bejeweled friends will return again before you know it! |