- Bird Accessories, Bird Feeders, Bird Nesting Materials, Hummingbird Feeders, Nesting Material, Uncategorized, Window Hummingbird Feeder
Add to Your Window Hummingbird Feeder
Add Nesting Material Near Hummingbird Feeders
Hummingbirds provide great entertainment, their sheer size and antics around feeders are fascinating to watch. Did you know they are excellent pollinators too? Yes, they’ll spread the love amongst your flower garden!
In the next month or so, hummingbirds will begin their long migration back to winter grounds in Central and South America, so nesting season is coming to a close for this year. But…next year you can attract more of the tiny jewels at your window hummingbird feeder by adding nesting material made especially for hummingbirds. It’s called Hummer Helper, and has been endorsed by The Hummingbird Society.
“It encourages nesting in a natural way” and may likely bring more fledglings to your feeders. Hummingbirds also practice site fidelity, meaning they will return to the same spot every year if it benefits them.
Hummer Helper Nesting Material -
Window Hummingbird Feeders…Sort of
Hummingbirds are probably the most anticipated of all migratory birds. Their crazy antics and acrobatics make them so fascinating to watch, it’s no wonder they’ve earned the nickname “tiny jewels”
Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is fairly simple: provide nectar, and keep them safe from predators. Nectar can come from tubular flowers and hummingbird feeders…they like both!
In wanting to view the tiny jewels close up, window hummingbird feeders provide the perfect opportunity. There are many models to choose from, most in a basin style, providing a no-drip feeder.
Another option for close up viewing is a deck-mount hummingbird feeder (shown above). It attaches easily to any deck rail, and still provides that great, “up close and personal” view of tiny hummingbirds in your yard.
Simple Nectar Recipe: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water…nothing else in the mix as it will harm hummingbirds.
Boiling the water is not necessary–bacteria is spread through hummingbirds’ bills at the feeders. Boiling water does make for quicker dissolving of sugar. We boil 1 cup water, mix the sugar and add 3 cups of cold water. The nectar is ready with no cooling time. Store unused portion in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
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Cut Feeding Costs with a Hummingbird Feeder
Backyard birding is a wonderful hobby, that for some like me, turns into an obsession! Too many feeders, too many bird baths to fill and clean all the time.
Keeping bird feeders filled can get expensive, especially when using premium foods. Every birdfeeder is equipped with a squirrel baffle…I’ve learned the hard way! When warmer weather approaches and it’s time to put out hummingbird feeders, I know it will only cost pennies to create the nectar hummingbirds adore.
Last season I did a test with commercial red nectar and plain old sugar water…the sugar water mix won! One hummingbird feeder was filled with red nectar, while the other had the home made version. Three times as many hummingbirds went for the sugar water. It convinced me immediately to make my own nectar .
The recipe: 1 cup table sugar to 4 parts water. Could it be any easier? No need to boil the water (bacteria is spread through the birds’ bills at the feeders) but in doing so it dissolves the sugar quicker. I use 1 cup of boiling water until sugar is completely dissolved, then add 3 cups of cold water. There is no cooling time and nectar is ready to go in feeders!
If you do decide to try the recipe, NEVER add anything else to the mixture as it will harm, or even kill hummingbirds.
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