OPERATING AND MAINTAINING A HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER

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Simply mounting a hummingbird feeder does not mean you’re done. To keep your hummingbirds safe and healthy, consider these tips.

  • Regular cleaning of your feeder is critical. At a minimum do this a couple of times per month. Hot water and a scrub brush and pipe cleaner will suffice. Avoid harsh chemicals and soaps. If your feeder doesn’t come apart for easy cleaning, pitch it and buy a new one designed to come apart for cleaning.
  • Use a feeder with red parts used to attract hummingbirds or hang a ribbon or handkerchief that’s red, orange, or yellow.
  • Be sure to brew nectar that is 4 parts water and 1 part sugar. Never use any other type of sweetener. And never use red dye since such food coloring is artificial and not part of a hummingbird’s diet.
  • During the hot summer months, change out the nectar every 3 or 4 days because it will spoil here in the Deep South. Some people have the bad habit of only changing out the nectar once it has been drained by the birds. Find a mostly shady spot instead of one where the hot sun is hitting the feeder for more than an hour a day.
  • Place your feeder several feet back from windows or shrubs. Birds can fly into windows, and shrubs are great hiding places for a neighbor’s cat.

Fall migration is always our most impressive season for hummingbird numbers and, for rubythroats in the Southeast, this peaks during the latter half of September. Feed hummingbirds responsibly so that we can continue enjoying our birds. If you’re interested in reading more about hummingbirds, be sure to pick up a copy of this book:

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