How To Attract Hummingbirds

If you've not done so already, it's time to clean out and refill your hummingbird feeders, because the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, "the king of nature's frequent flyers," is on its way back to the eastern U.S!

Our male arrived at our feeder about 10 days ago and the female arrived about a week later. We typically only have one pair, but we always have a baby "hummer" coming to the feeder in mid-summer.

The keys to attracting hummingbirds are to provide food, nesting materials and water misters for them to fly through. They love a good shower!

Hummingbirds are extremely loyal to feeding sites. A hummingbird that feeds in your yard one year will return to that feeder the next. Banding studies have indicated that the birds tend to return to where they hatched. If you aren't attracting as many hummers as you want - read on!

As the male Ruby-Throated is so territorial, one key is to offer lots of feeders. For both the male and female, there are two 'Golden Rules' for your hummingbird feeders. Keep the feeder clean and the nectar fresh. Hummingbirds keep their distance from fermented nectar.

Perhaps hummers understand that they need a clear head for their acrobatic flying. Fermented nectar, which can occur in a few days in hot summer months, can support the growth of deadly molds. If a hummingbird gets a taste of fermented nectar from your feeder, it will look elsewhere for a drink and remain suspicious of the offending feeder for a long time. Change the nectar every 4 or 5 days in cool weather and every day or two in hot months.

The formula for safe nectar is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Boil for a minute to dissolve the sugar. Obviously, let it cool before filling your feeders. One tip to always have fresh nectar available is to keep several containers in the fridge. Avoid the red-colored nectar found in stores. It's really not very healthy for hummingbirds.

If you need a hummingbird feeder or you're looking for something more unusual and decorative that what you find at local stores, visit our hummingbird page by clicking here.

Check back often, as we're always adding something new.

Fun fact: Hummingbirds consume half their body weight (1/8 lb.) in food every day. That would be like an average kid eating about 40 to 50 pounds of food a day! So always keep your feeders full.