How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden

Gazing at a wandering hummingbird, as it drifts from one bright hue to another, is a mesmerizing experience. Seeing a hummingbird pausing on a vibrant multi-colored flower can give you a sense of calmness and appreciation for life's simplest pleasures. A hummingbird lands delicately on a specific flower for a reason - to feed and pollinate. To attract hummingbirds to your yard isn't always successful because it depends on their migration path. And, each hummingbird might have a different migration path than another.

Hummingbirds are territorial, so if you have a neighbor who has been successful with seeing hummingbirds in their garden, you should be able to accomplish the same.

Facts on Hummingbirds

There are 330 known species of hummingbirds. Primarily the vast majority lie in the tropical forest of Central and South America. However, there are roughly 15 species in the U.S. One of the most common species you will find east of the Mississippi is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. However, in southeastern Arizona you will find the most diversity of hummingbirds.

They are the tiniest birds around, weighing just a few ounces. The first time you hear a hummingbird, you might think it's a bee buzzing near your ear. The speed of their wings makes a loud buzzing sound which causes them to appear as if they are suspended in the air.

Hummingbirds have tiny curved feet which are for perching not for walking. This is another reason why you won't see a hummingbird on the ground.

In the spring to early summer months, you will have the majority of the hummingbirds fly to cooler states. In a state like hot Florida, you won't see too many hummingbirds over the summer due to the extreme heat. I have noticed that since I have been living in Florida which is about 23 years, it is not a common bird to see. Actually, I saw my first hummingbird in Florida a couple of months ago, in February.

Some hummingbirds will migrate from north to south starting as early as July and as late as September. You can't keep the hummingbird in your area with those hummingbird feeders if they are ready to migrate. It's instinctive for them to know when to leave.

Hummingbirds are carnivores. Many people think they suck up the nectar with their beaks. However, they are actually licking it up with a long sticky tongue at a rate of about 10 times per second. This nectar helps propel them for catching their main interest - small insects like spiders. The amount of food they intake depends on the energy content of their meal. They have a high metabolism and can take in 10- 82 calories per meal.

Male and female will take turns to feed if they are nesting.

As they feed off of the flower's nectar, their bodies rub up against the pollen, and in turn help pollinate flowers.

How to Create the Right Habitat?

As with any habitat you want to create for wildlife, think of your layout.

- Have some fresh water nearby

- Have a variety of colors- orange, deep pink and especially red plants or bushes that have tubular nectar producing flowers. It is best to check with your local nursery for native plants. The plants you select for a hummingbird will most likely attract butterflies. So, you really are creating a habitat for both.

- Hummingbird feeders should not have any sharp edges and have good perches for the birds to grasp onto with their feet. Red feeders are the best for attracting them. However, never use the red hummingbird feed you buy at the store. Research shows the red dye formulas are harmful to hummingbirds. Just boil 1 part sugar to 3 parts water, cool it down and pour it in the feeder. It's cheaper for you and healthier for them. Also, think about where you place your feeder so that hummingbirds are more protected. If you place it near a hornets nest, they can do harm to the hummingbird. So, place it under something shady so that the water does not get too hot so that bacteria or mold does not collect. And, discard old food and clean out the feeder weekly.

- Plant thick shrubbery around your other tubular flowers so that they have protection from predators and a good place to nest.

Be Aware of Red Attractions Around Your Property

Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. If you live in an area that hummingbirds are known to frequent then think about what you might have lying around that could pose a threat to the hummingbird. An example of this would be your garage door handle. Inside your garage the emergency handle is suspended from the bracket. If a hummingbird is lured into garage and is frightened because of something that might startle it, it can become injured. When startled, the hummingbird has a tendency to fly straight up at a great speed. This could knock it out or even kill it.

Hummingbirds are truly a delight to have nearby. I have noticed they seem to feed around the same time of the day. So, if you want to capture a picture with your camera, you could get lucky and take a fabulous picture of one of nature's extraordinary creatures.