In Awe of Hummingbirds

In our region (Southwest Pennsylvania), we have a nice variety of birds for those of you who watch birds or garden for them.  One type we really have been enjoying for years is the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - which is usually around our area from April- October. 

We put out the usual hummingbird feeder (just the common glass or plastic ones with the red bottoms that are available most places, usually $8 or less) and fill it with our own sugar mix.  Contrary to popular belief - the sugar water does not need to be dyed red (the red on the feeder is enough to attract them) and you can make your own at home for a fraction of the cost of the pre-made packets.  Just mix one part granulated sugar to 4 parts water (if you have a water filter that takes out the chlorine in tap water, that's the best choice).  Mix until sugar is dissolved and fill your feeder.  Some people will boil the sugar water mixture and then allow to cool, but either way - be sure to clean your feeders once a week to prevent harmful things from growing in or on the feeder - the sugar solution and the hot sun make for a nice breeding ground for all sorts of nasty things that are not good for your birds.  We label the extra mix and put it in a container in the fridge - so it doesn't spoil.

We usually get two male-female pairs that come back to our feeders each year, even though our yard is fairly open.  Friends of ours who have more enclosed yards actually can get dozens at a time - they will hover a few feet from you and you can see them up close - it's amazing.  The male has a ruby-red throat, while the female has a white throat, both have shiny green-bronze backs.  They are about 3 inches long and weigh less than a penny.  I saw a hummingbird nest back in my school gardening days and it was the size of a thimble - very cool.  Their wings move so fast you almost forget they are actually birds - they seem more like some amazing fantastical creature from a child's storybook.

If you want to attract them to your garden, in addition to putting out the sugar water feeders in April, be sure to grow plants that have tubular flowers that are red, orange or yellow, they can also be attracted to other colors like purple or pink.  Some plants to include in a hummingbird garden in this region are columbine, jewelweed, hibiscus, hollyhock, coral-bells, Lithonia, fuchsias, cannas, mimosa, azalea, bee balm, petunias, gladiolus, nasturtiums, trumpet creeper and honeysuckle. 

So tell me what your hummingbird experiences have been - any tips, tricks or plant suggestions?  I am always looking to improve the habitat for these fun avian friends :)


Photo courtesy of Wikipedia (male ruby-throated hummingbird).