Green scene 101: How do I get hummingbirds?

   Ruby-throated hummingbird  (U.S. Fish & Wildlife)

Hummingbirds are an exciting addition to your Wisconsin backyard fauna and if you do the right things at the right times you can continue having them from late spring to early fall.

Hummingbird solution mixture

In early spring you’ll want to use 3 parts water (well water and tap is better than distilled since they contain electrolytes) and 1 part regular granulated sugar. The solution can be small since you will not have that many visitors early on. I usually mix no more than ¼ cup of sugar and ¾ cup of water per feeder. If you really want to get the mixture to fuse well it is recommend that you boil the sugar-water first. Be sure to remove the pan from the heat as soon as the water starts to boil or you will alter the mix ratio. I find it good enough to pour the sugar and hot water in a wide mouthed container (easier to pour the sugar into) with a lid and giving it a good shake. Make sure to burp the container first since the chemical reaction will create gases and can pop the lid while your shake – trust me. Allow cooling to room temperature.

I don’t buy the “nectar” you get at the store for three reasons: the dyes they use are found to be harmful in lab tests, the sugar water is almost identical to natural nectar anyway, sugar-water mix is way cheaper.

Placing your feeder (basin-style is pictured) under an overhang or tree will extend the life of your solution.

Feeder placement

Set out your feeder as they begin their migration north in late April. Place the feeder where you are going to keep it throughout the season so they can find it later on after they establish their territory. I recommend a place out of direct sunlight since your mixture will not degrade as fast. Just outside my windows I replaced some loose nails under my overhangs with small hooks (you can get them at any hardware store) and now I have an excellent view and a shady spot for them. If you have to move it later on you should move it short distances at a time so they can see where you put it from the old location.

Keep your feeder high and somewhat distant from high traffic areas. If the hummingbirds feel safe they will visit the area more often and stay longer. If you have cats you need to hang the feeder higher than their jumping range. Hummingbirds are surprisingly bold and you will be amazed how close they get to you if you are still. Busy areas will deter them from using your feeder.

If you plan to use more than one feeder you need to keep them out of sight of each other. The Ruby-throated hummingbird is one of the more numerous in the state and both the males and females are very territorial. If they see another hummingbird they will spend most of the time trying to chase them off than using your feeder. I had two feeders at forty feet apart and at different elevations and I still had tiny dogfights in my backyard. After I moved one to the other side of the house there was an almost total cease in hostilities.

If you want to attract more hummingbirds put some potted flowers near the feeders or place the feeder in a flowerbed and elevated above the flowers and danger (shepherds hook). Any long necked flowers such as morning glories, four-o-clocks, daylilies, and petunias are a sure attractant for them. 

This glass bottle-feeder can supply large amounts of solution

Types of feeders

Overall, I prefer glass containers to plastic because the sunlight degrades the plastic and may release harmful chemicals into the water (I might be overcautious about this). Glass also lasts a lifetime, looks better, and is easier to clean. If you have no choice I suggest a hard plastic compound rather than the soft.

Tube feeders. It is a simple design of a tube sticking out the bottom of a feeder (looks like a hamster’s water bottle). The concept is that the viscosity of the water and the suction created inside the container will keep the water from dripping out. I had two of them when I first started and the sugar-water dripped on the ground and attracted mostly ants so I threw them into recycling. The one positive aspect about these feeders is that insects are not able to crawl inside, that is until all your mixture drips out overnight. The more expensive models may work better or have a feature to prevent free-dripping but I have stopped using these types early on and the fact a lot of them don't have a perch has also detracted me from using them.

Basin feeders. The simplest and easiest to clean feeder I have found yet. Many of them come with two options to mount: a hook (included) that you can mount overhead, or a hole on the bottom you can insert a ½ inch tube (not included). I had mine for years and I highly recommend this type. The simpler designs do not weigh a lot and you will not need much solution to make it effective. If you don’t have a lot of hummingbirds this one is for you. The one negative thing about the basin-style is that more surface-area of your solution is exposed to the air so it will putrefy much faster than any other model. 

Bottle feeders.  These are heaviest of the three, especially if they are glass. They have the capacity to hold a large amount of solution so if you have a lot of hummingbirds this is the one to get. There is less surface-area exposure than the basin-style so the solution will last longer. A drawback is that they are the hardest to clean since the inside of the bottle is hard to get to and the base usually has nooks and crannies.

Cleaning your feeder

The most important part of owning a feeder is cleaning the feeder. Sugar-water is highly susceptible to mold and bacteria, especially when the temperatures reach above 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so proper maintenance is essential to keeping your little visitors healthy. If you find that you don’t have the time to clean your feeders on a regular basis then you may want to reconsider buying a feeder all together.

Every time I replace the solution I also clean the feeders. If you do this two or three times a week a good wash and rinse in hot water and dish soap is sufficient. If you let it go longer add a little vinegar in there as well. If it smells rotten, it should never get to this point, add a splash of bleach instead of vinegar and clean in thoroughly.

Make sure to clean the feeder holes. Pipe cleaners from a craft store or a small brush designed for the task worked into the holes will reveal some surprising results.

End of the season

By early to mid-October you may witness a feeding frenzy and then you will notice that they have abruptly left. I usually keep the feeders out for three more weeks and when I am certain they have all left I take them down, clean them up, and hang them in my garage for another long winter.
 

In late spring and summer switch your mix to 4 parts water and 1 part sugar. The insects they feed on will be more available and more flowers will be in bloom so they will no longer need the extra boost. If you notice your feeder is empty increase your solution. As we approach autumn again you should switch back to the 3:1 mix. I usually switch back when the nights start to be in the upper 50's on a regular basis.