Hummingbird Feeders

Introduction

Something we all have in common is that we need water.  Our animal friends are no different.  Urban development, habitat loss, and climate change has made water harder to come by in many places so this page covers a few options for helping out hummingbirds.

This Solution is for the America's Only

Since hummingbirds only live in and migrate across the Americas (from Alaska and Canada down to the southern tip of Argentina), and the Caribbean nations in between, there is no reason to set up humming bird feeders unless you are trying to feed insects like wasps or bees.

Life Expectancy

If you bring these inside during the seasons when they are not needed, they should last longer.

Benefits of Hummingbird Feeders

These provide hydration and calories to hummingbirds and some insect species even when local wildflowers have been lost to habitat destruction, or problematic weather. Hanging these near a window or other place can be a great way to help children and others get a close up view of these amazing creatures which can increase their concern about the environment on which the birds rely.

Dangers of  Hummingbird Feeders

 The "nectar" in these goes bad very quickly making birds sick or even killing them if not cleaned out and refilled often enough. The can also attract predators, or cause fights among humming birds who can be very territorial if there are too many birds and not enough feeders. These only provide liquid and calories, but not the nutrients that wildflowers offer.

Solutions

You can make a batch of nectar and keep some of it in the fridge to keep it good longer an reduce effort to refill the feeders. Make sure to use the correct quantities of water and other ingredients. Give the feeder a proper scrub including the hard-to-reach areas. The flowers for example may pop off to allow for deeper cleaning. Keeping the feeder out of the sun may also help reduce mold growth. Hang the feeder away from where predators can reach (keep you cats indoors!), and hand up extra feeders if you see birds chasing others away from the feeder. Better yet, plant some nectar-providing plants so that the birds have better access to proper nutrition, and aren't forced to come to one artificial point to survive, but can instead explore entire bushes and/or vines of flowers.

Materials

Often plastic, but some come as glass and metal.

"Fuel" Types

Water cycle + sugar or store-bought mix. 

Hummingbirds Also Like

Food Sources

Hummingbirds consume nectar, tree sap, and insects. They are especially good at hunting mosquitos with their spear-like bills, so providing a pesticide-free garden and water source can help provide them with both nectar for energy and insects for protein.

Wildflowers

These little birds enjoy nectar from species including lantana, firecrackers, fire bush.

Vines

Species including honeysuckle are favored for their red and orange colours.

Trees

As sapsuckers fly north, leaving weeping holes of sap on trees along their migration route, hummingbirds fly in behind them, to feed on the sweet fluid before spring flowers bloom. - A Partnership That Works: Sapsuckers and Hummingbirds

Water Sources

Bird Baths

Fountains/Water Features

These can be really pretty but need to be maintained, cleaned, and refilled, especially during hot/dry spells. In fact these experience the most evaporation of all the options listed on this page because water tends to splash over the edge and water evaporates more easily while it is suspended in air as the droplets have increased surface area vs water that is in a container. 

Organizations

North America

USA

Grants & Funding

North America

USA

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