You guys have probably been asked this a 1,000 times but it there a attracting hummingbirds 101 primer on this site. I want to get a hummingbird feeder but don't know where to start.
attracting hummingbirds
I'll start.....buy a Hummzinger feeder:
http://www.hummzinger.biz/hummzinger.htm
They are cheap, have an ant moat and are so easy to clean!
And make your own nectar....4 parts water to 1 part sugar.
and where I place the hummingbird feeder..how important is that. Do I add red food coloring to the nectar?
That is the same feeder I have, it's the best feeder I have ever had, easiest to clean and fill and the bug moat works. Don't bother with the food color unless you want, it really doesn't matter and mostly just put the feeder where you get the best view. Sorry this is the best pic I have gotten and its not good. My goal for the summer is just one really good pic. Holly
this is mine - they ignore the feeder and love the flowers
I seem to have them at both the plants and the feeder. I only have the one feeder but might put up another next year. We seem to have a lot more Hummers this year than before. They just love my trumpet vine but there isn't a chance of getting a pic of them out there. They also seem very interested in my Red Canna but I haven't noticed them at the Yellow or Orange Canna's. Maybe I'm just missing them.
Hi, depoitras-- Hope you have a lot of fun with your hummingbird project!
I don't know of a Hummingbird 101 thread, but here are a couple of HB threads for you to peruse in your free time...lots of discussion about what to plant to get the hummers visiting and nesting....
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/581724/
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/620404/
They aren't very pretty, but those red plastic feeders seem to be the HBs favorites. The ones like a flying saucer are very popular and some really like the wide-mouthed jar ones (easy to clean--important characteristic) available at Walmart for about $10., too. We don't need the big 48 ouncers at our house--more like a pint size and we don't have to fill them all the way. Once you get the HBs coming you can judge how much they use and how much nectar to put in every couple of days or so.
The hummingbirds are starting to migrate south this month, so you may attract some coming in from Canada. Here is a link which discusses HB migration and shows maps...
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/humm/index.html
Have fun. t.
But be careful ... once you see that first little flying beauty visiting the feeder that you put out, you *will* be addicted! :-)
Carla
Carla, that is the goal. That is a positive addiction!!