Hummingbirds & Feeders

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are beautiful and truly mesmerizing little birds! With a few simple steps, you can create a hummingbird habitat in your own back yard.  By choosing plants that attract hummingbirds, selecting the right hummingbird feeder and using the correct hummingbird food recipe, your yard will be buzzing with these fascinating creatures in no time. The ideal hummingbird house includes a feeder that is well maintained, full of hummingbird nectar and strategically placed.  With a little effort, your hummingbird feeders will be providing much needed nutrition to these birds and adding beauty to your garden.

In addition to their beauty, hummingbirds provide many benefits to your yard.  These birds are vital to pollination. With their long beaks and small stature, hummingbirds can reach flowers that other birds are not. They also provide pest control and help to rid your yard of small insects, frequently snatching them right out of the air. Since hummingbirds spend most of their life flying, their metabolism is quite active.  They need to eat every 10-15 minutes and will consume twice their body weight in nectar each day, so it is important to ensure hummingbird nectar is readily available.

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Creating a Hummingbird Habitat

All you need to create a hummingbird habitat in youryard are hummingbird feeders, hummingbird nectar and plants that attract hummingbirds.  The key to selecting the best hummingbird feeder is to make sure it has a hint of red. Hummingbirds can be very territorial, so to attract the widest variety it is best to hang two hummingbird feeders in your yard and space them out to avoid dominance by one bird. Maintaining your hummingbird feeder requires changing the nectar solution once a week during the cooler months and twice a week during the warm summer months.  You want to be sure to change the solution before it gets cloudy.  You will also need to clean the feeder with a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water and rinse well before filling again.

 

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

While hummingbird nectar can be purchased at the store, making it at home is simple. The best hummingbird food recipe is to use four parts hot water to one part sugar and boil the solution for two minutes. Be sure to never use sugar in raw form, honey or red dye.  Those can be harmful to hummingbirds. Hang feeders in the shade so the nectar keeps longer and doesn’t ferment.

There are many different varieties of hummingbird feeders available from ornate glass hummingbird feeders to simple plastic ones.  The best hummingbird feeder for you is one that fits your lifestyle.  It should have a hint of red and be easy to clean and maintain. 

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Plants that Attract Hummingbirds in California

Selecting the proper plants in your garden will help create a desirable hummingbird home.  Hummingbirds like to perch and rest, and choosing specific plants to attract them to your garden will only improve your habitat.  These plants not only supply a great place for the birds to rest, they will also help them carry out their pollinating duties. Hummingbirds also like to bathe frequently and the water that collects on the leaves of certain plants will provide a constant water source for them.  Click the button below, to see a list of plants that attract hummingbirds.

Plant List

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Stop in to your local SummerWinds Nursery today and let our experts help you design the perfect hummingbird sanctuary!

At SummerWinds Nursery, our Trusted Garden Advisors can assist you in creating your ideal hummingbird habitat.  We can help with everything from selecting the best hummingbird feeder to finding the perfect plants to attract these beautiful birds.  We take pride in our exceptional customer service and stand behind all of our products.

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