The vibrant colors and swift movements of hummingbirds have captivated the fascination of people for ages. These tiny birds have over 360 species and can be a delightful charm to any garden or yard. Creating a hummingbird-friendly space is easier than one might think; all it takes is a feeder and the right food to reveal the beautiful world of hummingbirds.
Bringing Hummingbirds Into a Home Garden
To entice hummingbirds to a personal garden, consider crafting a sugar-water-based food and placing it in a special feeder. These birds primarily feed on flower nectar, and homemade sugar water serves as an excellent substitute. A straightforward recipe involves mixing four parts of water with one part of sugar. The mixture, once boiled and cooled, provides a nectar-like delight for hummingbirds. However, it’s crucial to avoid organic sugar, raw sugar, molasses, red dye, or food coloring, as these may contain harmful substances.
Maintaining your homemade hummingbird food’s freshness is vital. Refrigeration is suitable for up to a week, but it’s essential to empty, clean, and refill the feeders every few days to prevent fermentation and mold growth, which could endanger the birds.
How to Attract a Hummingbird
Crafting a DIY hummingbird feeder can be a rewarding endeavor. A small Mason-style jar, fitted with holes in the lid and an eye bolt for hanging, makes for an excellent homemade feeder. Bright red paint can be added to the lid for visibility, and filling the jar with sugar water completes the setup. Periodic cleaning and refilling are essential to keep the feeder in pristine condition for the birds.
For those who prefer purchasing a feeder, there are generally two types available – bottle-style and saucer-style. Experts recommend saucer-style feeders for their ease of cleaning and natural bee-proof design. These feeders often feature an ant moat to deter ants from reaching the nectar.
Beyond feeders, there are other simple ways to attract hummingbirds. Providing a variety of flowering native plants with tubular blossoms in vibrant shades of red, orange, pink, and purple is a surefire way to invite these birds. Having bugs like fruit flies in the garden can also help attract hummingbirds, so attracting fruit flies with rotting banana peels is a good idea.
Also, not knocking down the spiderwebs in the garden is a great idea. Hummingbirds actually use those silky threads to build their cute little nests. If some cool water features, nice shady trees, and a few comfy perching spots are added to a yard, it basically rolls out the red carpet for these elegant birds!