Attracting Hummingbirds

n warmer areas of the world, hummingbirds are seen all year long. In parts of the world where seasons change and bring colder weather, hummingbirds visit us from spring to fall. Follow these guidelines to help attract hummingbirds to your yard:

• Since hummingbirds feed on flowers that produce nectar containing at least twenty-five percent sugar, you can encourage hummingbirds to frequent your yard by planting those types of flowers. Some flower nectars high in sugar content are columbine, honeysuckle, sage, fuchsia, bottlebrush, impatiens, larkspur, flowering eucalyptus, and trumpet vine.
• Sometimes it may take several seasons for those plants to produce enough flowers to attract hummingbirds, so you can place prepared nectar into hummingbird feeders around your property. You can find hummingbird feeders at lawn and garden centers, where you can also buy prepared nectar. Or, you can prepare your own nectar following this simple recipe with four cups of water and one cup of white granulated sugar.
• Use bright red feeders since most hummingbirds are drawn to the color red.
• Place your feeders on poles in your flower garden, or hang them from your porch near flowers. If you don't see hummingbirds visiting your feeders, make sure that you place the feeders around flowers.
• Stream red ribbons from your feeders to catch the attention of hummingbirds.
• Provide perches for hummingbirds, since they may need a place to rest in between feedings.
• Since hummingbirds can be aggressive and territorial about nectar sources, place other feeders in inconspicuous places so that all of the hummingbirds can feed.
• Place feeders at varying heights to attract different species. One variety of hummingbird will favor a height of twelve feet, while another variety prefers feeders closer to the ground.

You might invest in a water mister to attract hummingbirds, since they love to bathe in mist. Or, if you have broad-leafed plants, mist them often to attract hummingbirds to the water. Hummingbirds, as with all birds, will gather foliage and bits of grass for nesting. Provide flowers and plants, and offer abundant nesting materials to encourage females to nest in your yard.