Hummingbird Feeders Selection Guide
Did you know that there are over seventeen species of hummingbirds in
North America alone? Buying the right hummingbird feeder is essential
to attracting a variety of these miniature migratory birds to your
garden.
Like most birds, hummingbirds are attracted to their
food by sight, so bright colors, particularly red and orange, are a key
component in notifying any local hummingbirds that the kitchen is open,
and it's over here! Typically hummingbirds are attracted to bright
flowers that produce a sweet nectar. However, the pesticides and
growth supplements that are used in the typical backyard garden will
typically make their way into the flower nectar, and poison the
hummingbirds that stop by. For this reason, many bird enthusiasts have
taken to providing manufactured hummingbird nectar and hummingbird
feeders. It's a setup that's both safe for the hummingbird, and low
maintenance for the hummingbird enthusiast!
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Here are a few more tips to consider when choosing the right hummingbird feeder:- Bright colors are very important, with reds, oranges, pinks, or
corals being the colors of choice. Stay away from yellow feeders, as
they will attract bees.
- Try to find a feeder with an ant moat that will keep out pesky ants.
- Try to get a feeder with a perch. Flapping your wings thousands of
times per second gets old, fast. Hummingbirds would love to take a
break from flying while eating. Think about it. Would you want to
tread water while eating? Heck no!
- Place your feeder in an area
that's open and visible. You'll get a lot more enjoyment out of your
feeder by watching them eat. Did we mention the territorial battles
that take place between hummingbirds? Those are pretty fun to watch,
too!
- Try to keep your feeder away from windows. We don't want
the little guys accidentally crashing into windows, which is bound to
happen with improper placement.
Hummingbird
feeders are specifically designed to dispense liquid (nectar), not
seeds, and to make the nectar easy to reach for the bird without
drawing in unwanted insects. Plastic hummingbird feeders are low cost,
require no assembly, and are both easy to clean and very durable.
However, if you're looking for more traditional or elegant aesthetics,
a plastic feeder may not be right for you. Wood and glass hummingbird
feeders are more visually appealing, with the latter typically coming
in an assortment of custom shapes, sizes, and colors. Glass and
plastic feeders are the easiest to clean, and yes, you MUST clean
them! Glass and plastic construction are the best options here. Glass
is the "cleanest and greenest", as it doesn't contain chemicals that
could leach into the nectar over the course of time. However, high
quality plastics will be able to endure the rigors of the summer sun
and dishwasher. Remember, you get what you pay for!
Style is
also very important in selecting the right hummingbird feeder.
Bottle-styled feeders protect the nectar from contamination more-so
than open styled feeders. However, pan or basin-styled feeders will
not drip. No drip means no bees, wasps, or insects hanging around!
Pan or basin-styled feeders can also be more wind-resistant by adding
some weight to the bottom of the feeder. However, these styles are not
ideal for rainy climates. The water can dilute the nectar in the
feeder, and the hummingbirds will be less likely to return to your
feeder in the future!
A dirty hummingbird feeder can lead to
disease for these beautiful little birds. You'll want to use either a
water and vinegar solution, or a hummingbird feeder cleaner product.
Experts recommend changing the nectar every three to seven days, or
when the nectar starts to look a little cloudy. Putting some mineral
oil on the feeder wire and feeder ports is a little trick to keep the
bees away from your new hummingbird feeder.
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