HUMMINGBIRD, DON'T FLY AWAY - PART 2

Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away
Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away

In you I've found a fragrance
I'll love you 'til I die
I just love you, love you, love you
I don't even know the reason why now

Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away
Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away

The sweetness of your nectar
Has drawn me like a fly
I just love you, love you, love you
I don't even know the reason why now

Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away
Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away

                  ~Seals and Crofts Lyrics

 

Hummingbirds are always a welcome sight at my house. They’re fast, cute, and really fun to watch. They also help pollinate your flowers, so attracting them definitely has benefits for gardeners. You can attract them a number of ways: from planting colorful flowers to avoiding using pesticides. But the easiest way to bring them into your yard is by installing a red hummingbird feeder.  Pam at BrownThumbMama shares tips and the recipe to make nectar.  I also found a video here: Make Hummingbird Nectar

It is a good time to start feeding hummingbirds if you want to attract some of the early migration about the first of April.  This time does vary as some southern US areas may start seeing hummers in March, and extreme northern areas and Canada may not see them until the first part of May.

click the link When should I start feeding hummingbirds for more hummingbird feeding information.

Although it can be refrigerated for about a week before using, avoid making up too much nectar at one time.   It is best just to fill the feeders about half, for it needs to be changed every four or five days, and in hot weather, maybe even more often to prevent the nectar from becoming moldy.  Never use anything but plain white granulated table sugar when making your nectar, and always thoroughly clean your feeder before refilling. click link for more information on hummingbird feeder and cleaning

Hang the feeder in a shady spot near flowering plants that attract the birds.  Hummingbirds are very territorial and will chase off other hummingbirds trying to use their feeder, so if you use more than one feeder, hang them in locations so that both feeders can not be seen at the same time to improve feeding.


Leave the feeder up for about two weeks after your hummingbirds have left for the season.   If you go 2 weeks without seeing a Hummingbird in September,
this might be when to stop feeding hummingbirds and take down your hummingbird feed/hummingbird feeder until next year.  It is not true that leaving a feeder out longer than you should "messes up" the birds clock to migrate. 
As the days get shorter, this decrease in the amount of daylight will trigger hormonal changes in the Hummingbird that will cause them to migrate southward.

This is considered by many to be the 'Jim Dandy' of hummingbird feeders, the HummZinger Ultra with Nectar Guard

It has flexible membranes attached to the feed ports that prohibit entry from flying insects, but allow Hummingbirds to feed as usual. The HummZinger also has a built in ant moat that will stop crawling insects from getting to the nectar. It also has raised flower ports that divert rain.  I definitely am adding this baby to my wish list!!  I also think the Hummingbird Brush Kit would be very nice to have as well.

Much more information on hummingbirds can be found here:

 http://howtoenjoyhummingbirds.com

More hummingbird products can be found here:  

http://www.onlinenaturemall.com/feeders-birdfeeders-hummingbird.html 

Peace:)