Garden Angels
Hummingbirds are unique and lovely creatures that awe us with their quickly beating wings and hovering capabilities. I have made it my mission the last few summers to attract hummingbirds to our yard. I finally had great success last year! Here are a few things I learned about welcoming hummingbirds back to Colorado.
It took me several attempts to find the right spot to hang hummingbird feeders. I tried them in the backyard because I thought it would be peaceful and feel safe. I was concerned about cars, people,and dogs passingby our front sidewalk.But in the end, our large shade tree in the front yard turned out to be the best place for them.
1 - Find a spot to hang the feeders where hummingbirds will see them and that also provides a nearby place for them to land and hide in between feedings. Begin putting feeders out in mid-April to welcome hummingbirds back from their southern migration.
2 – Hanging two or three feeders in the same tree can help to attract more birds. Hummingbirds are territorial, so they will defend their food source if it’s the only option.
3 - Keep the feeder washed inside and out to attract hummingbirds and to keep them safe from mold or germs. I prefer the simply shaped feeders with little adornment to make the cleaning process easier.
4 – Change out the sugar water at least every week. Hanging a feeder in the shade will keep the liquid from heating up and spoiling too quickly.
5 – Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. Hanging a red feederis a good idea and planting red flowers nearby will attract them to the area. Do not use red dye in the sugar water as it can be harmful to a hummingbird.
6 – If you have the problem of attracting bees, move the feeder about three or four feet. The bees will lose track of the feeder, but the hummingbirds will still be able to find it.
Our large tree created a little haven for hummingbirds to feed, rest, and nest! It was a beautiful sight to see them living near us and even see an incredible little nest not much bigger than a large marshmallow made of down, fibers, and feathers. I loved to step outside and hear their distinctive, high-pitched twitter and the hum or whistle of their wings. To watch them perch or hover around the feeders and chase each other was fascinating.
SyrupRecipe -
Mix 1 part refined white sugar with 4 parts hot water and stir until sugar is dissolved. Let the syrup cool before placing in feeder. Extra syrup can be stored in the refrigerator.