Category: Hummingbird Feeders

How to Select a Hummingbird Feeder

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Having a hummingbird feeder in the yard is probably the easiest way to attract hummingbirds. There are so many varieties available, so which feeder should you select? There is no perfect answer to this question, but after having read this post you should have a better idea of the types of things that you should consider when trying to select the feeder that you want for your yard.

The first consideration should be the color of the feeder. It is important to note that the hummingbird feeder you select does not have to be red. It can be decorative in nature and add to the asstestics and beauty of your yard. Many of the feeders on the market today will have some red on them, but if the one you select does not you can hang a red ribbon above it to help attract the hummingbirds to it.

The next thing to consider is what size of hummingbird feeder to buy. If you are just starting out with trying to attract hummingbirds, I would suggest you start out with a smaller sized feeder. You can not be sure when starting out the number of hummingbirds that will be visiting your yard. The smaller size of the feeder will helpfully prevent the spoilage of the nectar in the feeder. If you choose to buy a larger sized hummingbird feeder, only fill it up particially with nectar until the number of birds visiting the feeder increases.

Another consideration is where to place the hummingbird feeder. The feeder can be placed on tree braches, garden stakes or a metal hook. If you have multiple feeders, then place the feeders out of site of one another, because male hummingbirds are quite territorial and will try to defend them. Feeders can be grouped together also, because it will be impossible for the male hummingbird to defend all the feeders, thus more of the hummingbirds will be able to feed at the same time. You will also want to hang the feeder in a shady area rather then in direct sunlight to try an help prevent the nectar from spoiling as a result of its exposure to direct sunlight. You can also place the feeders near plants that attract hummingbirds and the birds will find the feeders.

It is important that the feeder be very easy to clean. You will want to do this each time you refill the feeder or every three or four days in very warm weather. A clean feeder is the best way to prevent mold and bacteria from forming which can be very harmful to the hummingbirds.

Bees and ants are common pest associated with hummingbird feeders. How do you solve this problem? Most feeders on the market today are designed in such a way that will prevent the bees from accessing the nectar reservoir. To solve the problem of ants, the best solution is to buy a feeder which has an ant mote, which is a device which is hung above the feeder and filled with water. This device works because ants are unable to swim.

It is my hope that these tips will help all of you who wish to discover how to select a hummingbird feeder. Even if you have heard this information before, it does not hurt to be reminded of it once again because you never know when you might once again have need of it once again. Maybe now all the various choices which are available on the market today will seem a little bit less overwhelming to each of you. Here is to many happy hours of hummingbird watching!

Hummingbird Feeders

Other Visitors to Your Hummingbird Feeders

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If you are a hummingbird enthusiast, then you likely already know that the use of a hummingbird feeder is a great way to attract the hummingbirds that we enjoy and wish to attract. Have you ever considered that the hummingbird feeder may also help attract other types of birds as well to your yard?

I personally had never even considered that other various species of birds could possibly be visiting the hummingbird feeders found in my yard. I automatically assumed that hummingbirds were the only type of birds that would be likely to visit the feeder. I have since learned that this is not true.

It seems that there are several species of birds besides hummingbirds that may be seen visiting your feeders. These include the following: buntings, chickadees. house finches, jays, mockingbirds, orioles, woodpeckers, and wrens. The birds mentioned are not intended to indicate a complete listing of the various species that may been found visiting your hummingbird feeders, but to help you realize that you may be blessed to have many species of birds visiting your feeders.

Happy Birdwatching to all!

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No Vaseline or Other Oils on the Feeder

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Ants are a common problem many people experience with regard to their hummingbird feeders. As a result, people are always seeking ways to solve this pesky and challenging issue. The best solution to this problem is to block their passage to the feeder. This blog has many various post on how to accomplish this successfully, but this particular post will examine why things like Vaseline, tanglefoot or other oils should not be used on the hummingbird feeder.

For anyone who may have been following this blog for quite a while now, this is a change from what I have said on this subject in the past. In my own defense though, I did not know that those things could do harm to the hummingbirds. After all, no hummingbird enthusiast can possibly know everything there is to know on an particular subject because new information is constantly being discovered. I regret the error and wanted to make this new information available to you as soon as possible.

I have just recently discovered that things like Vaseline or tanglefoot, which is a sticky substance commonly found in garden stores, or other oils should never be use on hummingbird feeders. If you, like my mom, have tried this before don’t feel too guilty; you are not alone in having done this. I just want to point out why this should no longer be done.

The reason that things like Vaseline, tanglefoot or other oils should not be used is because these substances can get on the hummingbird’s feathers and cause the bird’s feathers to stick together and thus make it difficult for the hummingbird to properly clean itself or it may even prevent the bird from being able to fly. because its feathers have stuck together.

This never occurred to me before. What about you? I just know that I don’t want to intentionally cause harm to the hummingbirds and I’m sure you don’t either.

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Why Hummingbirds Aren’t Visiting Your Feeder

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If you know that there are hummingbirds in your area, but the birds don’t seem to be visiting your feeder, you may be wondering the reason for this and how to solve the issue. This post will offer you some possible explanations and ways to help you solve the problem.

If this occurs during nesting time, the hummingbirds will be far less likely to come to your feeders because they are focused on feeding their young insects. Following the departure of the young from the nest and also during the fall migration you should see an increase in the number of hummingbirds that are visiting your feeder.

Also, you may actually live in an area that is a poor hummingbird habitat. In other words, you live in an area that has few flowers, trees, or shrubs that hummingbirds like and therefore fewer numbers of hummingbirds visit the area.

This next explanation may surprise or even shock you. Yes, it is actually possible that you may live in too good a habitat. If there are too many plants, flowers, or shrubs in your area which attract hummingbirds, then the birds may have no need to visit the feeders in the area. Therefore, the natural food supply is so abundantly available and this makes alternate food sources (feeders) unnecessary.

The hummingbirds in the area may not be interested in your feeder, due to the fact that it is possible for individual hummingbirds to develop their own particular feeding patterns and be influenced by their prior experiences.

Another simple explanation why there are no hummingbirds at your feeder is because it is breeding season. The birds may have gone elsewhere to do their breeding.

The feeding solution in your feeder may have fermented or gone sour. Generally speaking, the feeder should be cleaned every two to three days. Don’t leave your feeders empty for too long and be sure to change the nectar solution if it has gone bad. These things will definitely cause the hummingbirds to stay away from your feeder and winning back the trust of these birds is a difficult thing to do.

Lastly, you just might not be noticing when the hummingbirds arrive in your area of the country. If there are only a few hummingbird species found in your area of the country, then it would actually be quite easy for you to miss seeing them because hummingbirds spend very little of their time feeding.

Hummingbird Feeders

What is an Ant Guard?

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If you have been into attracting and feeding hummingbirds for some time or if you have just recently gotten into doing so, then you are probably all too aware that ants can be a pesky problem. While there are many ways to solve this common problem, the best way that I would recommend to solve this problem is through the use of what is known as an ant guard.

Just what is an ant guard? Quite simply put, the ant guard acts a barrier between the ants and the nectar solution, which therefore prevents the ants from feeding on the nectar. This will make the hummingbirds happy because they will now only be fighting other hummingbirds to get to their food source rather then the ants as well.

Most feeders on the market today come with built in ant guards, but if the feeder you have did not come with them then you may be able to purchase them as an accessory for your existing feeder. The best way to find out about this is to check with the manufacturer of the feeder that you own.

I myself would not purchase a feeder that did not have ant guards. If you did so previously, I hope that this tip will help you solve the problem of ants at your hummingbird feeder. Maybe now you will be able to more fully enjoy the hummingbirds that visit your feeders.