Neglecting these Typical Blunders in Maintaining Your Hummingbird Feeder
Want to attract hummingbirds to your garden or balcony? Hanging a feeder is a great start, but there are some common mistakes to avoid. Here's how to set up your feeder effectively and increase your chances of attracting these fast-fluttering birds while reducing unnecessary efforts and expenses.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using a Large Feeder
increase your chances of attracting hummingbirds while reducing unnecessary efforts and expenses.
It may be tempting to opt for a larger feeder, but experts recommend going with smaller ones to minimize spoiled nectar. Feeders on the smaller side help prevent wastage, especially if you don't have a lot of hummingbirds visiting. If you already have a larger feeder, only fill it partially and monitor how much the hummingbirds consume over a few days.
Gail Karr is a curator of special animal exhibits at the Memphis Zoo.
2. Opting for a Stylish Feeder
When just starting, it's better to choose a traditional hummingbird feeder over a stylish one. These simple feeders are easier to clean and often work better. Once you've successfully attracted hummingbirds to your yard, you can experiment with more artistic and stylized feeders.
flowering plants that attract hummingbirds or in a highly visible place like a porch," says Karr. "Remember to be patient–they usually find it."
3. Placing the Feeder Incorrectly
Setting out a hummingbird feeder doesn't mean the birds will immediately flutter around. It may take time for the birds to find the feeder, and placement is key. Place your feeder near flowering plants that attract hummingbirds or in a highly visible place like a porch. Be patient, as the hummingbirds will usually find it.
keep the feeder clean."
4. Neglecting Frequent Cleaning
make sugary nectar often and clean it frequently too, to avoid it becoming moldy. "Feeders should be emptied and cleaned every 1-2 days if it's particularly warm out or your feeders are in a sunny spot," says Kincaid.
A hummingbird feeder requires regular cleaning to maintain its hygiene. Make sugary nectar often and clean the feeder every 1-2 days if it's in a sunny spot or particularly warm. In cooler weather or shady spots, you can wait an extra day or two before cleaning, but ensure the nectar remains transparent. If cloudy, give the feeder a good scrub.
neem oil or insecticidal soap.
5. Adding Red Dye
put out your feeder and when to take it down. "In most of the United States, hummingbirds are only around during the breeding season," says Kincaid. "I prefer to put my feeders out about a week before I expect the hummingbirds to start arriving in my area so that the feeders are ready when the hungry birds start arriving."
While hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, refrain from adding red dye to your homemade sugar nectar or purchasing pre-made nectar with red dye. Most feeders are already red, so it's not necessary to add red dye to attract the birds. Red dyes such as Red No. 3 and Red No. 40 can be harmful to hummingbirds and are best avoided.
pull down the hummingbird feeders for the season," Kincaid adds. However, there are some areas in the United States where hummingbirds hang around year-round, thanks to milder climates. Kincaid shares that states, such as California and Arizona, have hummingbirds all year.
6. Using Pesticides in the Garden
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Watering your garden with pesticides and herbicides can harm wildlife and pollinators like hummingbirds. Opt for organic alternatives like neem oil or insecticidal soap for problematic insects.
"FDA to Revoke Authorization for the Use of Red No. 3 in Food and Ingested Drugs." FDA.gov.
7. Leaving Feeders Out All Year Round
Know when hummingbirds are in your region and when they leave to put out and take down your feeder accordingly. In most of the United States, hummingbirds are only around during the breeding season. Once the temperatures start to dip and most birds begin their migration, it's best to pull down the hummingbird feeders for the season.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a welcoming environment for hummingbirds and enjoy watching these beautiful creatures visit your feeder.
- For effective hummingbird feeding, consider using smaller feeders as recommended by gardening expert Gail Karr, which can help reduce spoiled nectar and ongoing expenses.
- When just starting, it's better to choose traditional hummingbird feeders over stylish ones, as they are easier to clean and often work better.
- When setting out a feeder, placement is crucial. Place the feeder near flowering plants that attract hummingbirds or in a highly visible location like a porch to increase your chances of attracting these birds.
- Regularly cleaning the feeder is essential to maintain its hygiene and avoid moldy nectar. Feeders should be emptied and cleaned every 1-2 days if they're in a sunny spot or particularly warm.
- Hummingbirds are naturally attracted to the color red, but it's best to avoid adding red dye to homemade sugar nectar or purchasing pre-made nectar with red dye, as these can harm hummingbirds and are not necessary.
