Mike Mahaffa
My wife and I have noticed many hummingbird feeders on homes as we drive around High Prairie. That is a very good thing, and I’m sure the local hummers would like more feeders about. We have fed hummers for many years and we would like to pass along our experiences.
First is the hummingbird feeder. There are many beautiful “designer” hummer feeders available and they certainly look attractive hanging from a feeder hook. Unfortunately, they can be difficult to clean completely or they may not hold much nectar. If you have fed a few hummers (or sometimes dozens) you learn how even a large feeder can be drained in a few days. Once you start feeding hummers, it is important to always keep the feeder(s) as full as possible, particularly during the early to late Spring when the male and female/mother hummers are relying upon them as a regular source of food, and as Spring progresses into Summer and the amount of reliable natural sources declines.
My wife and I have found two types of hummer feeders to be the best. They are easy to fill and easy to clean with a small brush, particularly the opening to each orifice in the base of the feeder from which the hummer feeds. If not cleaned regularly, the opening can grow black mold which can affect the hummers negatively. The same is true for the interior of the feeder. I have enclosed pictures of the two standard feeders, one vertical and the other, a flat design. I like the flat design as it is very easy to clean and also has a relatively short opening to the nectar even if the volume of liquid is low. That is particularly advantageous for the Calliope Hummingbird, which is regularly found on High Prairie in breeding season and in Fall. This bird has a shorter bill, so distance to the nectar is important. The only disadvantage to this flat feeder is that rain has a tendency to drain into the feeder and dilute the nectar, so I put a feeder shield over the feeder (Amazon— preferably red). This prevents the rain from entering, but also the red shield will draw the hummers’ attention to the feeder location.
The other hummer feeder is vertical and comes in various sizes, which is an advantage as you add hummers to your banquet. I also recommend a shield over this type of feeder, as it will shade the feeder. Some of my feeders are located under the eves or are attached to the windows with suction cups. There may be shade under the eves, and rain is much less of an issue.
Placement is important, particularly in the hot summer days on High Prairie. Mount the feeders where they do not receive the full afternoon sun, ideally in shade. Mount them high enough so cats or other animals cannot reach the hummers as they feed. To help hummers find the feeders you may wish to tie red ribbon near or below the feeders to make them more obvious to migrating hummers. As mentioned, placing feeders in shade or using a shield above the feeder can help prevent the nectar from getting too hot. The higher the nectar temperature the less time the nectar will remain unspoiled. During high summer it is best to clean the feeder(s) after 3-4 days. This is very important as bacteria, viruses and mold can grow and spread quickly and cause death of the hummer or growths on the hummer’s tongue.
Other problems at the feeder(s) can be ants, gnats and wasps. Ants can be thwarted by a small dish-type device to mount above the feeder, using the hook at the top of the feeder. The principle is to fill the ant guard device with water, which acts as a moat. Ants can’t cross the water so they won’t get into the nectar portals. The water level has to be kept full as the water evaporates quickly in summer. The two feeders described above have built-in ant guards but they don’t hold much water and it evaporates quickly.
Wasps can be a problem and difficult to deal with, but they seem to be more of a problem in the afternoon when the temperature rises, while hummers will feed early and late in the day. Gnats are a problem for which I have not found a solution. Since hummers feed on small gnats on flowers as they feed, I am hoping they add a “garnish” to the feeder liquid, but that is probably wishful thinking. Hummers will stop coming to a feeder that has a lot of ants or gnats floating in the nectar.
Putting out and maintaining more than one feeder also has the advantage of separating male hummers, particularly Anna’s and Rufus Hummingbirds, which are very territorial and will fight and drive off any competitor. If the multiple feeders are spread around your property so that a male hummer cannot see an interloper on another feeder: he will blissfully think, This is my one and only feeder and I am the king of what is mine.
The formula for making your own hummer food is widely available on the internet. It’s not necessary to put red dye into the sugar solution to attract the hummers. Never use honey or any other substitute. The last few years my wife and I have been using Hummingbird Nectar purchased through Amazon which is premixed and, importantly, contains electrolytes. This product carries the endorsement of Cornell Ornithology.
We enjoy feeding the hummers. As a neighbor stated, there are few things more satisfying than sitting on your deck in the late afternoon as the sun goes down, surrounded by several hummingbirds buzzing through their life with their young and enjoying the habitat that you have established for them.