Attracting Hummingbirds with Feeders

Attracting Hummingbirds with Feeders
You can attract hummingbirds by using feeders that dispense sugar water. Hummingbird feeders generally consist of a plastic or glass storage bottle with red "flowers" encircling the feeding openings. Select a feeder that is easy to clean and that will store enough nectar for three to four days. Nectar left in feeders for a longer time will go bad. Mixing 1 part sugar to 4 parts water makes hummingbird "nectar". Bring water to a boil and pour over sugar. Stir solution and let cool to room temperature before pouring into the feeder. Extra nectar may be stored in the refrigerator. Weaker sugar solutions will be less attractive to hummingbirds, and stronger solutions may be harmful. Never make the solution from honey, because fermented honey can cause a fatal fungal disease in hummingbirds. It is unnecessary to add red dye to the solution since hummingbirds are attracted to the red coloring of the feeder. If your feeder doesn't have red on it, you can use red nail polish to paint the color near the openings. Commercial "nectar" mixes are available but are no better than those you make yourself.

Placement
Place feeders close to plantings of hummingbird flowers and in a location where you can watch the feeder. Hummingbirds are very aggressive at feeders. If a number of birds are fighting over one feeder, set up an additional feeder away from the first one.

Timing
Feeders should be placed outside as soon as the first flowers come out in spring, because hummingbirds follow the blooming flowers north in their spring migration. A concern that feeders keep hummingbirds from migrating and hold them in northern areas has proved to be un-founded. The primary clue hummingbirds use to migrate is change in day length. Therefore, feeders can be kept up until birds quit using them. Generally, you can take them down when they have not been used for a week or more.

Maintenance
Replace the sugar solution every three to five days and clean the feeder before adding a new supply. Wash the feeder thoroughly with soap. Make sure to rinse all parts thoroughly before refilling with sugar solution. Feeders may attract bees, yellowjackets, wasps, hornets, ants or other unwanted species. Some feeders have "bee guards" on the openings. These allow hummingbird's long bill and tongue to reach the sugar solution but prevent bees or other flying insects from reaching it.