It is spring at long last, and here in Colorado, it seems we have been ready and waiting a long time to glimpse our favourite bird, the hummingbird. We love seeing these petite, graceful animals of such bright color outside our windowpane. There have been a few summers here that we have seen twenty various hummingbirds at our two hummingbird feeders sipping on our homemade hummingbird food. We had to replenish them daily just to stay caught up with the hungry birds!
We are lucky to have really great soil in our yard, although most of this part of the state is pitiful, stony soil. This makes growing perennials simpler and makes the flowers more plentiful. I say simpler since we're in a high-desert clime and have to irrigate constantly to keep things growing.
Those two things: heavy blooms, and running the sprinkler system help draw in the hummingbirds to our property. With their specially configured snouts and long tongues, they just love the blossoms fitted to their shape. Our aquileges, torch lilies and buddleias are like big signs promoting a hummingbird-friendly playground.
We have tried to plant perennials that flower throughout the summertime so that we always have something to appeal to the hummingbirds. What a difference it's made. We often get to delight in the hummingbirds at least a good calendar month earlier than they find our next door neighbours yard.
Although you might not need to run a sprinkler in the summertime as we do, you can put in a fountain or birdbath that will appeal to just as many hummingbirds. They enjoy the splatter and spraying of the water and we have watched them a lot of times hovering and ducking across the nearby river wherever the water strikes the rocks and sprays up.
In addition to the blossoms and water, we put up our hummingbirds feeders filled up with sugar water. There's no reason to purchase mix for use in the feeders because it's easier and cheaper to mix your own. Here's the recipe:
-One part cane sugar
-Four parts water
-Boil for 2 minutes
-Cool to room temperature and fill feeders made for hummingbirds
There's no reason to add food coloring to the feed. It might in reality be damaging to the hummingbirds. Why take the risk?
A small trick we have discovered over the years is to put a small bit of transparent tape around the base that holds the beeguard in position. That way it keeps the bigger, more enterprising birdies like the Orioles from removing the beeguard and stealing the nectar.
We have tested a lot of different types of feeders and ascertained that the birds like the ones with hard plastic "blooms"' ringing the beeguards. We have not had very much luck with the drip-type feeders.
Make certain to wash the feeders well with very warm water between use. It's not advisable to place any component of a hummingbird feeder in the dishwashing machine or use detergent. To be sure the feeders are absolutely clean prior to storing for the wintertime, we use a small amount of chlorine bleach and water. It is essential to rinse the feeders very well whenever you do need to use Clorox.
And so if you are wanting to draw in graceful hummingbirds to your yard, remember the blooms, the water and some hummingbird food. You will presently have your personal flock of hummingbirds who come back to your yard every year!
Mary Johnson is the owner of BirdFeederStore.biz. Visit her store to browse the huge assortment of bird feeders and bird houses as well as hummingbird feeders, just in time for the arrival of the hummers!
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