The hummingbirds or hummers for short are the smallest bird in the world and the only one capable of flying in one place. They may appear small and fragile-looking but they are feisty, aggresive and vigorous. And definitely,they are pretty and amazing, so having them in your backyard is indeeda great experience. Here are some tips and and ideas on how to attract hummers in your garden or backyard.
Hummingbirds' favorite flower are the typesthat are colored red. In addition, they are also known to be appreciative to flowers in pink, purple, orange, white and blue. They love trumpet-shaped ones and the nectar-rich flowers. Aside from the color, they also love pleasing blooms and attractive foliage. Examples of flower varieties that can best attract hummingbirds are butterfly bush, lantana, fuchsia and red columbine.
Placing hummingbird feeders in your garden does not just end there in order to best attract them. You should take good care of the feeder in order to constantly attract them. Bees and insects should not be anywhere near the feeders so check them regularly. Do not forget to regularly place home made nectar on the feeder so they will keep coming back. It is advisable to change the nectar every 3 to 4 days but more frequent during hot days. The best recipe for homemade nectar is boiling one part sugar to 4 parts water.
Hummingbirds also need protein for their nutrition and they rely on insects for this. They eat about 40% insects for their diet including aphids, white flies, gnat and mosquitoes.. There are various native plants that attract many healthy insects for them to eat, so its best not to spray these plants. If you want to have a healthy hummingbird garden, insecticides must not be used on leaves or flowers in your area.
Aside from food like nectars from flowers and insects, hummingbirds are also looking for shelter to rest and preen. They find suitable shelters on things such as slender poles, thin vines, trellises, wires, twigs, and shrubs. Hummingbirds will sit quietly perched, sometimes in order to save energy, at state referred to as torpor. Aside from food, hummers also revitalize themselves through perching to fuel their active flying. Also note that these birds can be very territorial and aggressive so they favored perches that are close to their source of food in order to protect their territories.
Hummingbirds are like the bees in the bird world, they are always busy, busy, buzzing from one flower to the other. With their needlelike bills and long, flexible tongues, these tiny birds are always on the move, always searching for a sip of that sweet nectar in order to fuel their rapid and swift flight. With their fast wing beats, iridiscent feathers, big appetitite and amazing flying abilities, they are indeed an extraordinary creature packed in a small package.
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