The nectar that hummingbirds drink from flowers is simply a sugar solution. The insects must be small enough to swallow whole during flight – watch out, SWD! Hummingbird prey includes (but is not limited to) small beetles, flies and fruit flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and spiders. The insects hummingbirds eat provide them with protein, amino acids, and necessary vitamins and minerals. Flower nectar provides sugar to support their high metabolic rate… even higher during flight due to their rapid wing flapping rates. The diet of an average hummingbird consists mostly of flower nectar and insects. Between his beneficial insects and his hummingbirds, he has not had to spray." A ruby-throated hummingbird, native to New York, visits a typical feeder. He estimates there are more than 500 hummingbirds flying around his fields on picking days, some even landing briefly on pickers’ arms or hats. When feeding their young, hummingbirds will eat up to 2,000 small insects per day! "Robert Hays of Hays Berry Farms at Dumas, MS, installs 25 hummingbird feeders per acre in his six acres of blackberries and fills each with a plain, clear, sugar-water solution. Be sure and use warm, soapy water with a soft brush to clean the area well.ĭid you make one of my recipes? Please take a moment to leave a star rating.Hummingbirds may enjoy eating SWD! An article in Good Produce, Berry Growers Sharing Great Ideas by Charlie O’Dell, published May 14, 2014, highlights "Unusual Way to Control SWD" one grower’s use of hummingbird feeders to attract these beautiful, pugnacious, and voracious birds. Sometimes this area can get a little mold on it during hotter months. We also use a nail brush to gently clean out the feeding ports well. Be sure and rinse with warm water well to remove any soap residue. Soak the the bottom of the feeder in soapy water for 10-15 minutes and use a bottle brush to clean the inside of the hummingbird feeder. Use warm water and a few drops of Dawn or liquid dish detergent. What is the best way to clean hummingbird feeders?Ĭleaning hummingbird feeders is really simple. Plastic feeders tend to get cloudy, have more of a chance to build up mold and much harder to clean. We find they are much easier to clean, more attractive and will attract more birds.
Do you use glass hummingbird feeders or plastic?Īll of our hummingbird feeders are glass. You can check with your local Audubon center or local bird club to see when they will arrive for your growing zone. This will help you catch the birds as they migrate North.ĭate varies regionally as to when hummingbirds will arrive in your backyard. If you live in warmer climates, like we do in North Carolina you should be putting out the hummingbird feeders sometime around mid-March to early April. When should I put out my hummingbird feeders?
(They tend to be very active that time of day!)
We can also sit quietly on the patio, around dusk to watch them enjoying the feeders. This helps us to easily view the hummingbirds feed through our kitchen window and back patio sliding door. Since we have 4×4-foot fence posts and PVC coated chicken wire that surrounds the vegetable garden, hummingbirds can easily take a rest on the fence or fence posts. We have herbs, perennial flowers and annual flowers in the garden surrounding the vegetable garden. Our hummingbird feeders are strategically placed on two sides of our vegetable garden. Hanging feeders near convenient perches will keep them nearby. Hummingbirds spend up to 80 percent of their time resting between feedings, perching nearby as they watch their favorite territory.Place hummingbird feeders so you are able to easily access them in order to clean and refill them frequently.Hummingbirds are small, but still need plenty of space to maneuver around feeders to feel comfortable.Hanging a plant hook or using small chain to hang feeders from the branch of a tree can be useful. Consider the distance from your viewing area, since hummingbirds are only three to four inches long. You also want to be able to see the hummingbirds.Direct sunlight can make nectar spoil more quickly. It’s best to place hummingbird feeders in a partly shady area, but somewhere hummingbirds will see them.
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