Hummingbirds are beautiful gems and wonderfully fun to have as a guest in your
yard. If you are lucky, you may even have one raise a baby in your yard. Hummingbirds are normally a creature of habit.
They travel along the same routs, and have their favorite stops. However, they are inquisitive, and will search out new food
sources if their old ones dry up. Many people have commented about how a hummingbird shows up in the spring to the place where
the feeder was hanging last year...waiting for dinner. They run inside, get it ready, and put it out. Within seconds the grateful
little bird comes back for a snack.
Besides planting a garden that will provide nectar for the hummingbirds, there
are several other ways to attract them. A popular way is the red nectar feeders sold at most hardware and discount stores.
The first step would be to put out a nectar feeder. Most are under $10, but you can also find some very pretty
hand blown glass for close to $40. You may have an opinion, but the hummingbirds don't really care, other than they are
attracted by the red.
As for the nectar, you can buy it from a store or specialty on-line retailer. You can also
save a lot of money and make your own...and it is very easy! To make your own nectar, dissolve one part sugar to four parts
boiling water. Stir to make sure all of the sugar dissolves. Also, make sure the mixture is at room temperature before serving
to your little hummers. If you make too much, you can store this in your refrigerator for up to a week.
There are a couple DON'TS you need to keep in mind. Don't use honey. Don't
add food coloring. And don't use artificial sweetners, or anything artificial for that matter. Any of these can be harmful
for your little birds.
Pick a location that is mostly shady. Many people will place hanging baskets near the feeders
to entice the little ones even more. If you choose too sunny of a location, it will heat up the bottle, and it tends to leak
more. When the feeders leak, it attracts ants by the millions. If you do have a leak, use your water hose to dilute the leak,
as to not attract scavengers.
If you see a lot of ants crawling to your feeder, you can purchase or make baffels
to prevent it. I have also heard of putting vaseline on the line coming to the feeder.
Cleaning is an important
step in keeping your little hummers healthy. Clean your feeders with warm water and a little soap once a week. Sugar water
tends to be a perfect place for bacteria to grow.
