Have you ever thought about why certain gardens attract hummingbirds while others do not? These exquisite small aerial acrobats are not just flying around and enjoying the scenery. They are looking for a very specific feature that most gardeners do not notice. Keep reading to learn more about the surprising 'secret surveillance program' that is monitoring your sugar supply.
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Not so fast on assuming red is the favorite color of the critters. The little flower fanatics are attracted to a particular shade of hot pink color found in some flowers like the Salvia. It's the same shade of pink as the flamingos your grandma used in her rose garden, and the little performers can see it from half a mile away!
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The Hidden 'Swing Set' Perch That They Always Search For
The thin branches that move in the wind? That is gold to a hummingbird. To them, these branches act as a porch swing where they can sit and watch the world from above. Before you prune that ugly looking stick, remember that it could be an important part of a hummingbird tree.
Little Water Drops From Your Rusty Sprinkler
The sprinkler head that has stopped working correctly? There is a hummingbird shower! These fastidious flyers love the fine mist produced by slightly malfunctioning sprinklers. They take the tiny droplets to clean their feathers, very precisely. It's just like those old beauty salon misting bottles.
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Just as crafty garage sale shoppers, hummingbirds are on the constant lookout for spider silk. These materials can be used to build their nests, which are the size of walnuts. They collect strands from old spider webs and use the strands as bungee cords to hold their nests and allow the nests to stretch as their babies grow. These materials are better than anything you could buy at a craft store.
Did You Know?
Hummingbird nests are about walnut sized and almost entirely made of spider silk. Keeping a few cobwebs undisturbed in your garden may directly increase the chance of nesting success.
That One Particular Morning Sun Angle They’re Obsessed With
Similar to your aunt who each season changes the position of her morning coffee spot, hummingbirds follow the prime sunbeam. They are after that ideal 45-degree angle of light just after the sun rises, typically around 7:15 to 8:30. At this time, their feathers turn to prismatic displays and they are able to catch the rays of the early morning sun. It’s their very own spotlight from the sun.
Pro Tip
Position your feeders so that the morning sun hits the feeders between 7 and 8:30 am. The warmth will help the cold nectar flow better and the light will help the hummingbirds see the feeders from farther away.
The Surprising Garden Flowers They Really Overlook
The gorgeous hybrid tea roses you've nurtured all season? Hummingbirds don’t care about them. These practical little creatures are after flowers with deep tubular shapes that protect the nectar from rain and other insects. They really do seem to be taking some variation of their grandmother’s advice about not judging a book by its cover.
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The Tiny Bugs Dancing Above Your Petunias
Most garden guides do not tell you this secret: hummingbirds don't only come to your garden for the sugar water you put out. They need to eat microscopic insects and tiny gnats as a protein source to stay alive. The insects are like a fast food protein source for them, as a meal replacement for the nectar.
The “Territory Tree” They’ll Fight to the Death Over
Every garden that attracts hummingbirds has one. A special lookout spot that is like a corner office. It is most often the highest bare branch, with a clear view of all the feeders. They will defend it like your uncle defends his favorite recliner during Thanksgiving football.
The Ideal Distance from Your Kitchen Window
These smart birds know how close they can get to your window without triggering your motion-detector lights. They will hover exactly 4-6 feet away, making their own sweet spot close enough to be admired by you while you wash your dishes, but far enough away to make a quick getaway.
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Hummingbirds are just like your grandma when she was seen performing her morning beauty ritual. Hummingbirds have their morning rituals as well. They carefully balance themselves on the broad leaves and use the morning dew drops to clean their feathers. This, of course, is done while the rest of the world is still asleep. This is their version of the first cup of coffee.
Sugar Industry's Sneaky Ways to Spy on You
There are miniature neighborhood watch programs, and these birds have them. They will learn to recognize the shapes and patterns of the sugar bags, and they will show up almost the instant the nectar is prepared. They will for sure be watching you from your kitchen window as you refill the feeders.
Your Action Plan for Creating the Ultimate Hummingbird Haven
Now that you understand the needs of hummingbirds, you can learn how to make your garden an attractive destination for them. To begin, consider planting native species like bee balm, cardinal flower, and trumpet vine. As a tip, when planting these flowers, try to form groups of these flowers rather than single-stems as these provide the deep tubular blooms that the hummingbirds like. Additionally, grouped flowers provide an easier target to the hummingbirds when viewed from the air.
Put several feeders in multiple positions and at different heights in the garden, but space each one at least 10 feet apart to keep feuding from getting out of hand. In the summer, clean out feeder molds and other bacteria every three to four days. In the winter, do the same cleaning once a week. To make fast, cheap sugar water, use a ratio of 1:4 with white sugar to water. No need to add red dye for the sugar water. The feeder itself will be enough of a visual attraction.
Leave some untended areas in your garden for spiders, webs, and small insects to come. They will contribute a food source and building materials. Also, consider putting a little water feature, like a fountain or dripper, near your flower beds, as the sound of running water will “ring in” those small visitors.
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When should you start putting up hummingbird feeders? Put up feeders roughly 2 weeks before you expect hummingbirds to arrive in your area. Depending on your region, this could mean early March for southern areas and mid-April for northern areas. After you see the last hummingbird, keep feeders up until 2 weeks later, which is usually in October.
What is the ideal number of feeders? It is best to have one feeder for each hummingbird, then add one more. If you notice fighting over feeders, try placing multiple feeders around your yard. To put it into perspective, one hummingbird can visit between 1,000 and 2,000 flowers every single day. That means the more feeders you have, the less fighting there is over food.
Why did my hummingbirds suddenly disappear? This can happen due to natural food sources being more available, during migration, and feeders may also become contaminated. If feeders were clean, nectar was fresh, and all conditions were right, then migration may be the cause as this typically happens mid to late summer.
Can I use honey or artificial sweeteners in feeders? Never use honey, brown sugar, or artificial sweeteners. Honey could promote harmful bacterial growth, brown sugar has iron which is toxic to hummingbirds, and artificial sweeteners have no nutritional value. Just use white sugar and water.
What flowers should I avoid planting? You should skip double-flowered types because these flowers have been bred for looks not for nectar. Marigolds and zinnias have shallow blooms that don't accommodate hummingbird beaks so avoid those. Also avoid heavily hybridized roses and most annual bedding plants.
Caring for a Seasonal Hummingbird Garden
Spring preparations are important for welcoming our first hummingbird visitors! Cleaning and refilling feeders can be done before the first hummingbird sightings and native wild columbine and coral honeysuckle can be planted. Be sure to prune dead branches leaving some perches as hummingbirds love to have some thin perches where they can rest.
To keep nectar fresh for your Hummingbirds, change it every couple of days, deadheading flowers will help promote flowering for the continuity of summer's peak. To help hummingbirds help cool off, provide shade over feeding areas as they could overheat.
Preparation for fall provides the necessary energy for the migration journey. Boost the capacity of your feeders and plant late-blooming species like cardinal flower and jewelweed. Don’t be quick to take down your feeders—late migrants rely on these food sources, and your feeders will not delay instincts of migration.
