Hummingbirds live throughout the western hemisphere. They will stay where they can find good sources of food, water, and nests. Their small size and acrobatic flight maneuvers make them attractive and pleasing to look at. You can try creating an environment that attracts their attention, such as brightly colored flowers or decorations, a bird feeder, and a small garden on your plot. Such an attractive environment can encourage hummingbirds to come and live on your farm.
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Part 1 of 3: Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Step 1. Create a hummingbird garden
To attract hummingbirds to your garden in a natural way, create a garden with plants that specifically attract their attention. This means that your garden is filled with plants such as azaleas, bee balm, butterfly bush (also known as summer lilac), columbine, digitalis (a type of plant with purple bell-shaped flowers), hosta and morning glory. These plants have bright colors and produce delicious nectar for hummingbirds. When choosing plants, choose a plant that produces only a slight odor, but has a bright, striking appearance and produces a lot of nectar.
- As a suggestion, you can plant trees, vines, shrubs, and flower plants, either perennials or annuals. You can also grow plants such as honeysuckle, cypress vine, coral bell, and impatiens.
- Tubular flowers (like bellflowers) have the most nectar than flowers of other shapes. Therefore, this type of flower is the most attractive to this little buzzing bird.
Step 2. Make the plants in your garden always bloom
During spring and summer, different types of plants and flowers bloom at different times. To ensure that there are always blooming flowers in your garden, plant some flower plants that bloom early in the season. Also plant some flowers that bloom in the middle of the season, and some that bloom at the end of the season.
Also do deadheading (trimming wilted flowers) to keep the plants blooming longer. Once the flowers have started to wilt, cut the flowers just below the stems. Deadheading is a trick to get plants to 'feel' that they still have to flower. After you do deadheading, the plant will flower again, become healthier, and have thicker leaves
Step 3. Do not apply pesticides to the plants in your hummingbird garden
Hummingbirds can swallow the pesticides you spray and these substances are harmful, even killing hummingbirds. What's more, the hummingbird eats insects and the insects it eats may have died from the pesticide you sprayed. This can eliminate a useful source of protein for the bird. Therefore, do not use pesticides. If any insects may be bothering your plants, let the hummingbirds eat them.
To be safe, keep your garden natural, either by not using pesticides or by not adding artificial sugar to the nectar. Hummingbirds have sensitive digestive systems, so make sure they only eat foods that are natural and safe for their digestion
Step 4. Provide a place for the hummingbird to perch, such as a tree or hanging pot
Hummingbirds also need to rest from their activities. When they're not flying at superfast speeds, they need a place to roost and rest. Provide tree branches or hanging pots around your garden so they can rest.
The male hummingbird has its own territory and protects both its territory and its food sources. Often, he will choose a perch where he can monitor the source of his food and chase away male competitors
Part 2 of 3: Installing the Hummingbird Feeder
Step 1. Make your own nectar for hummingbirds
Many people believe that hummingbirds are attracted to domestic nectar more quickly. Make an amount of nectar that will fill about half of the bird's feeding container. Otherwise, the nectar can go stale and moldy faster. Follow the method below to make nectar:
- Make a mixture of sugar and water in a ratio of 1:4
- Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes
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Cool the mixture then transfer to a resealable container (seal can be opened and closed). Store the mixture in the refrigerator.
Do not use red food coloring, honey, or artificial sweeteners as these are not good for hummingbirds.
Step 2. Install some red hummingbird feeders as the weather warms up
To attract hummingbirds and reduce competition for space between them, install some red (or at least red patterned) hummingbird feeders. Red is the favorite color of hummingbirds. If it's still not 'red' enough, attach a red ribbon so that the hummingbird can see the feeding place more easily.
- Changes in weather to warmer weather will depend on the location where you live. Some places experience warmer weather changes in January, but there are also some places that experience changes like this in May. Regardless of the weather changes in your location, make sure you install bird feeders early in the season (or about 5 to 10 days before their 'arrival day') because hummingbirds may arrive sooner and, therefore, stay longer.
- Don't immediately drop the hummingbird feeder when the (warm weather) season is over! Even if your flock of hummingbirds has left due to winter weather, another flock of hummingbirds may be coming. They may be on their way to somewhere else and use your hummingbird feeder as a suitable place to rest.
Step 3. Install bird feeders in different places to prevent fighting between them
You need to provide enough distance between one place to eat to another. You can also place it in certain corners where male hummingbirds can't control other feeding grounds because male hummingbirds love to make their own territory. Remote locations can provide opportunities for other hummingbirds, whether male, female, or young, to be able to get food without fear of being chased and chased away by the dominant male hummingbird.
- Install one or two feeders in your garden, hang one from a tree, and even try placing one or two in your front yard, where the dominant male hummingbird can't see it.
- Install in a shady place, at least throughout the day. This can prevent the growth of mold which hummingbirds certainly don't like.
- Some people actually prefer to install all of their hummingbird feeding places in adjacent (next to) places. In this case, no male hummingbird should dominate so that no birds are expelled from their place.
Step 4. If necessary, buy an anti-ant device (guard) to protect the nectar from the ants
Most bird feeders have this installed, but if you don't have one, you can purchase the kit separately. You can also apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the sides of the feeder to prevent the ants from getting up and eating the nectar, but make sure you clean your bird's feed every few days to keep it clean.
Bees tend to be more difficult to get rid of from your hummingbird's feeding grounds. A bird feeder with a bee repellent can be a good choice, but such protection doesn't always work 100%. Immediately clean up spilled nectar on the sides or edges of the bird feeder if you see it so as not to attract the attention of bees
Step 5. Change the nectar every 3 or 4 days
Even if there is still nectar left (the nectar hasn't been used up), you will need to replace the nectar. Mold can develop on the nectar if you don't replace it regularly. What's more, mushrooms can grow faster in hot climates. This mold growth is the reason why you should only fill your hummingbird feeder half full.
- Every time you change the nectar, first clean the place to eat with hot water, but do not use dish soap. If you notice mold growing on the food tray (usually black dots), brush off the affected area or use sand and shake the tray until the mold comes off.
- Hummingbirds prefer a clean feeding area. They will leave a place to eat that looks dirty and unkempt. Therefore, to keep the hummingbirds that come happy, always keep your hummingbird feeding area clean.
Part 3 of 3: Attract Hummingbirds To Your Yard
Step 1. Decorate your page with red knick-knacks
In addition to natural decorations, such as plants or flowers, you can decorate your yard with red glass balls (such as those used for fortune telling), red garden flags and red furniture (for example, garden benches). When searching for nectarized flowers, a flock of hungry hummingbirds will be attracted to red over other colors. You can also turn your yard into a hummingbird magnet by hanging red ribbons or other hanging decorations in red.
If any of the decorations are starting to fade or dull, or the paint is peeling, paint them again immediately. To repaint small parts or decorations, you can use red nail polish. Besides being cheap, this method can also work well
Step 2. Use an orange or red reflective survey tape
Reflective survey tape is an adhesive tape that is usually used in field survey activities. These adhesive tapes are useful because, not only are they bright in color but also because they reflect ultraviolet light. It is thought that hummingbirds are sensitive to ultraviolet light. Reflective survey tape has a fluorescent substance that can reflect a lot of ultraviolet light. These adhesive tapes can be found at hardware stores and are inexpensive.
Step 3. Install a shallow fountain with an upward jet or a small jet
Because of their small size, hummingbirds usually get enough water by drinking the dew on the leaves. However, they really need to clean their bodies because the nectar they eat makes their bodies sticky. Fountains with small spouts can be a great place for hummingbirds to cleanse their bodies and freshen up.
- Place the fountain close to where your hummingbird feeds. Because the sense that works best for hummingbirds is their sight, make the fountain easy for them to see. The easier something is for hummingbirds to see, the easier it will be for them to find it.
- Make sure the fountain continues to work. If the fountain is placed directly in the sun, there is a possibility that the water evaporates quickly. Check your fountain every few days to make sure that the amount of water in the fountain is not less than the minimum limit, and that no other animals are contaminating the water in your fountain.
Warning
- Never use honey or artificial sweeteners. Hummingbirds can indeed eat them, but both substances cannot be digested by hummingbirds.
- Avoid using pesticides in your hummingbird garden. In addition to nectar, hummingbirds also have to eat small insects as protein intake so that they can survive. In addition to killing the small insects that are food for hummingbirds, pesticides can also absorb into flower nectar so that it poisons hummingbirds.
