Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Posted by GuestW on Jul 16, 2009 in Birds • No commentsHummingbirds can be found throughout the Americas including the Caribbean. Known for their hovering ability and their skill at backward flying, hummingbirds hover by rapidly flapping their wings up to 85 times a second.
The Bee Hummingbird is the tiniest bird in the world at just two inches in length and 1.8 grams. The Giant Hummingbird is the largest hummingbird at twenty four grams in weight and eight inches long. Hummingbirds have the highest metabolism of any birds and to keep going they have to consume their own weight and more in food daily. So that they can do this they must visit five hundred or more blooms a day to gather the nectar. They have extended beaks and tongues which allows them to reach deep into the blooms. They have the ability slow down their metabolisms when resting, unlike nearly all other animals with a high metabolisms. This lengthens their lifespan, which has been recorded at up to 16 years.
Making A Garden Friendly to the Hummingbirds
To attract hummingbirds to your garden you could plant brilliantly colored shrubs and flowers. Hummingbirds have a poor sense of smell but they are attracted to bright colours. Placing a feeder specially made for humming birds in your backyard or on your terrace will be a focus for these pretty birds. Annuals to plant include salvia, petunia, impatiens, firespike and jewelweed. Perennial plants include hosta, hummingbird mint, cardinal flower, canna, bee balm and columbine. For shrubs and trees pick azalea, buddleia, cape honeysuckle, mimosa, weigela, flame acanthus, lantana, red buckeye and tree tobacco.
Don’t use insecticides in your garden as this will destroy bugs and insects that hummingbirds eat. They also leave deposits on flowers which the hummingbirds could consume. Also provide plenty of roosting places as hummingbirds spend in the region of 80% of their time sitting on clothes lines, twigs etc. Supply plants that will supply materials for nesting to catch the attention of the females. Hummingbirds favor soft nesting material from trees like eucalyptus and willow and from lichens and ferns.
Hanging up brightly colored, specially made hummingbird feeders in your garden will attract the hummingbirds. An excellent idea is to fasten red ribbons that blow around the feeder. It’s also beneficial to supply feeders at assorted heights as hummingbird species all have different preferences. Species that favor low growing plants will visit a feeder sited lower whereas species that feed on taller shrubs and plants will rather visit a feeder positioned in a higher position. Hummingbirds are also very territorial and an individual hummingbird may perhaps defend a particular feeder and stop other birds from coming near. Set a minimum of three feeders at assorted heights all around your garden.
Hummingbirds enjoy bathing in the mist on plants so you might put a mister near to some broadleaved shrubs to supply them with a place to bathe.
A Method of Making Hummingbird Nectar
A sweet nectar can be made by blending together one cup of sugar and 4 cups of water that has been boiled. Let it cool and store in the fridge. Nectar that is unused can be kept safely for up to 7 days. Thoroughly wash hummingbird feeders weekly by rinsing with a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar in four cups of water then washing out with clean water. Fill up with the nectar and hang in the shade. Do not add sweeteners or food coloring. Also don’t use honey as it will ferment and create a fungus that is harmful. Swap the nectar solution in the feeder at least every three days or more often in hot, summer weather.
In Conclusion
It’s easy to make a garden to attract these attractive birds. Give them the food they love and a secure setting and hummingbirds will pay a visit your garden frequently.
See more garden craft ideas at Easy Craft Ideas
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