Happy Spring! Get Ready for the Hummingbirds!
Tax season is here! Even if you aren’t getting money back this year, tax day can still bring you joy. This is the time of year that hummingbirds migrate north. Hummingbirds send out “scouts” to look for places where food is readily available and they are usually the first to arrive. If you’re wondering when the best time to put feeders out and attract scouts, let tax day, April 15th, be your reminder.
If you are interested in bringing hummingbirds to your yard, here are a few other tips, including an easy recipe for hummingbird food:
- Hummingbirds have a great memory and will likely visit the same area from year to year.
- Hummingbirds are territorial. Having multiple feeders in various locations can help to bring more of them to your yard.
- Hummingbirds love red, so consider a red feeder or putting the feeder near some red plants such as cardinal flowers.
- Rather than using the red hummingbird food sold in stores, try making the food yourself. It is simple to make and better for the hummingbirds. (See Recipe Below)
- Consider hanging ant motes along with your feeders so that ants don’t get into the hummingbird food.
- Hummingbird food can last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Before adding it to the feeder, it should be closer to room temperature. Thus, if you are taking it directly from the refrigerator, it is advisable to let it warm up before pouring it into the feeders.
- Hummingbird feeders should be changed every 3-5 days. The sunnier it is, the quicker the feeder should be changed so the food doesn’t spoil.
Hummingbird Food Recipe:
- One cup sugar to 4 cups of water.
- Bring the sugar and water to a boil for 2 minutes.
- Let it cool before putting it away or putting it into a feeder.
Submitted by Master Gardener Allison Foster