Never "top off" your hummingbird feeders without washing them. I store them in my refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, refilling (and thoroughly cleaning) the feeder every 2-3 days when empty. Then I place the extra nectar into two cleaned 16 ounce plastic water bottles with caps. I fill my smaller 12 ounce hummingbird feeder. This makes just less than 40 ounces of nectar. Anything you think is "healthier" or more "natural" is not for hummingbirds! Never feed honey to hummingbirds! Make no substitutions! All alterations of this formula are potentially harmful to hummingbirds. Dissolve 1 scoop of white refined table sugar into 4 scoops of tap water. But some people want to make it complicated. Please read my article on how to keep your hummingbird feeder from freezing. In some locations, hummingbirds are found year-round, even where there may be some snow or ice. It tells you when (or if) to take down your hummingbird feeders in the fall. It tells you when to put out your feeders in the spring. This article lists the exact migration dates for each species in each state in the U.S. Please see my very popular article When to put out and take down your hummingbird feeders. And these won't be the bright males you were hoping for. The point is this: If you don't put out your hummingbird feeders before the first males arrive in spring, it is possible you won't get hummingbirds until the fall migration begins in July or August. The young will then find hummingbird feeders that are reliably filled and stay there until late fall before heading back to Mexico for the winter. That would be wonderful! If not, once the young hatch they will explore the neighborhood and perhaps find your feeder. Away from the fighting males.įemales may build a nest in your wooded backyard or one with mature landscaping that provides bushes and shelter. The females then leave the male's territory to find a wooded area to build the nest, lay and incubate the eggs, and raise the young. These prime areas will be ruled over by the dominant male. They find the areas with the most flowers. By July, the males-who take no part in nesting duties or raising the young, return to Mexico.įemale hummingbirds arrive a couple of weeks after the males in spring. They won't visit your hummingbird feeders. They won't establish a feeding territory that includes your home. If you don't make your yard enticing to the adult male hummingbirds when they first arrive in spring, that's it. Once these territories are established the males stay in them until the flowers dry up. If you want the best spot, you have to arrive early! Earlier than your rivals, but not so early you freeze or starve to death! But by then the older experienced males have claimed the prime territories. You might think that it would make more sense for the male hummingbirds to arrive later when the weather is better and more flowers are blooming. A territory may include a hummingbird feeder. They have a tall perch or two to use as a sentinel post to drive out all other male hummingbirds from their domain. Feeding territories have flowers and bushes that will soon bloom. These early males grab the best territories-a feeding territory. Snow is still possible, or freezing temperatures at night. There are only a few early blooming flowers and tree buds to provide nectar and insect food. It is still early spring, if not on the calendar, as far as the weather goes. Male hummingbirds migrate out of Mexico and arrive on territory in the spring, 1-2 weeks before the females. But most of the long-distance migrants (Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, etc.) follow the same basic pattern. How could this be the wrong time of year?"Įach hummingbird species is slightly different. Our first topic, though, is about timing. Is there something wrong with your hummingbird feeder? We need to make sure we're not doing something that might drive hummingbirds away from our feeders. Why won't hummingbirds come to my feeder? So I know that feeling of wondering if I'm doing something wrong. At some places where I have lived, I had to work hard to attract hummingbirds. Fall visitors at my feeder have included Costa's, Black-chinned, and Rufous.īut it hasn't always been so easy. Here at my feeder in San Diego County I regularly see Allen's too. I love to see hummingbirds zipping by! And not just Anna's. Despite this familiarity, I really enjoy seeing them at my feeders. For years I have lived in areas where Anna's Hummingbirds are year-round residents.
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