Hummingbirds are once again returning to their breeding grounds as spring comes around. That means it is time to start thinking about putting out your hummingbird feeders.
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The small birds can weigh anywhere from two grams (bee hummingbird) to 20 grams (giant hummingbird) and measure between two inches to eight inches long. With wings flapping at an average of 53 flaps per minute during normal flight, they are easily one of the most magnificent creatures in your backyard. Just like most creatures, their habitats are being lost to humans, and our efforts to feed them are not always successful. It is important to know what hummingbirds are native to your home and how to feed them to encourage them to return next year.
Related: The best plants for attracting pollinators to your yard
The life and future of hummingbirds
All 340 hummingbird species live in the Americas, but only about 17 regularly nest in the U.S., all close to the Mexican border. They can be found as far north as Alaska; though, only one species is found east of the Mississippi River, the red-throated hummingbird.
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Hummingbirds are a migratory species, except for Anna’s hummingbird, which always remain along the Pacific Coast, and Allen’s hummingbird, which is a subspecies that stay in Southern California year-round. For all other hummingbirds, their biological clock tells them when it is time to fly south for the winter, and most head to the tropics of Mexico and South America.
They rely on the nectar of flowers to fuel their quick-beating hearts and are most attracted to red and orange tube-shaped flowers. These pollinators are not social creatures with males not sticking around to care for their offspring. If they did, the females would have to compete with the males for food, which would not end well for her.
While some can fly hundreds of miles without stopping, hummingbirds have an average life span of only three to five years. However, one broad-tailed hummingbird is known to have lived for at least 12 years. Hummingbirds, while most are not endangered, are vulnerable to loss of habitat as cities clear natural landscapes that would be filled with wildflowers. Bees and hummingbirds work together to pollinate and further the growth of crops, so their loss will be devastating to humanity.
There are things we can do to prevent their habitat loss and extinction. Making birds a policy priority is a start, but drinking coffee made on farms that grow flowers hummingbirds enjoy is another solution. You can even turn your backyard into a hummingbird haven.
Hummingbird feeders
Many people assume putting red food dye in their hummingbird feeders is a good idea because hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers. While there is no certainty that red food dye is harmful to hummingbirds, it is probably not that good for them.
Instead, planting red and orange flowers, as well as flowers native to your area, is a good way to add to your garden. Additionally, painting your hummingbird feeder with red paint is a great way to direct them to the food you have set out without using red food dye.
Hummingbird feeders act as a supplementary source of nectar for hummingbirds. That means living in a city or an area with fewer flower gardens will not be as big of an issue. The easiest way to feed hummingbirds is with a 1:4 sugar-to-tap water ratio, meaning 1/4 cup of sugar for every cup of water. There are commercial brands of hummingbird food, but this is a cheap version that is easy to make.
Making your own hummingbird food can even encourage you to be more diligent in cleaning your feeder. Ants are also attracted to sugar water and bacteria may build up in the hummingbird feeders. Regularly rinsing and cleaning your feeder with a detergent — rather than soap — will mean that the hummingbirds in your yard have the cleanest and safest food you can offer.
If you live along the Pacific Coast or in Southern California where your hummingbirds are resident year-round, you do not need to put away your hummingbird feeder. You will not disturb hummingbird migration if you leave your feeder up for too long either. However, it is good to move the feeder inside to avoid freezing and to give it a good clean before the next season.
Hummingbird migration begins as early as late January with all the birds reaching their breeding grounds by mid-May. This means by May, even Alaska will see hummingbirds. They will leave again between August and December for their winter homes, once again making long journeys.
With spring in full bloom, it is the perfect time to search for the species of hummingbirds that will soon be in your area and what food they will enjoy the most. Find your feeders and fill them, because the hummingbirds will soon be here.
Via Birds and Blooms
Images via Pexels
