How To Attract Hummingbirds To Your Balcony

Table of Contents

Hummingbirds are mesmerizing creatures, often referred to as “flying jewels” due to their iridescent feathers and rapid wing movements. These tiny birds bring life and color to any garden, making it a delight for both bird enthusiasts and casual observers. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to create an outdoor space that hummingbirds find irresistible, right in your own backyard? In this comprehensive guide on how to attract hummingbirds, we will cover various aspects such as selecting native plants, setting up feeders, preparing nectar, providing water sources, and enhancing your yard to attract these beautiful birds.

Short Summary

  • Create a hummingbird haven with native plants, shelter and nesting areas.
  • Incorporate nectar feeders in visible locations and provide clean water sources.
  • Enhance the yard by adding perches, attracting beneficial insects and using colorful visual cues.

Creating a Hummingbird Haven

 

To attract hummingbirds and provide them with a safe and bountiful environment, it’s important to create a hummingbird haven in your yard. This involves selecting native plants with seasonal blooms that act as a food source and incorporating shelter and nesting areas to ensure their wellbeing.

By understanding the essentials of a hummingbird-friendly yard, you’ll not only enjoy the company of these magnificent creatures, but also contribute to their conservation.

Selecting Native Plants

One of the key aspects of creating a hummingbird haven is choosing native plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting materials. Native plants offer several advantages, as they draw a larger number of insects than exotic plants, increasing the food options available to hummingbirds.

Some popular native plants known to attract hummingbirds include bee balms, geraniums, begonias, hollyhocks, petunias, azaleas, butterfly bushes, honeysuckles, weigelas, morning glories, and tulip poplars. To ensure that there is a continuous food supply for these tiny birds, it’s a good idea to choose plants that bloom at different times throughout the year.

Seasonal Blooms

When selecting plants for your hummingbird garden, flowers with long, tubular shapes that are high in nectar content and inaccessible to most insects are particularly appealing to hummingbirds. The nectar at the bottom of these flowers can only be reached by their long bills, making them the perfect choice for attracting hummingbirds.

Plants like the butterfly bush and trumpet vine possess these characteristics and are known to be favorites among these flying jewels.

Incorporating Shelter and Nesting Areas

Providing sheltered areas with good visibility near food sources is essential for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. These sheltered spots can be created using native plants, shrubs, and small deciduous trees, which also offer nesting materials such as fine natural cotton and animal fur.

To further enhance the attractiveness of these areas, make sure to position perching plants and shrubs near food sources, as this will encourage hummingbirds to stay and nest in your garden.

Feeders: Types and Placement

hummingbird_drinking_nectar_from_a_feeder

In addition to native plants, hummingbird feeders play a crucial role in attracting these tiny birds to your yard. Different types of feeders, such as glass bulbs, inverted tubes, and saucer dishes, cater to the preferences of various hummingbird species.

In this section, we’ll explore the different types of nectar feeders, their ideal locations, and the benefits of using multiple feeders to attract more hummingbirds.

Nectar Feeders

An ideal nectar feeder for hummingbirds should be saucer-shaped with multiple ports, easy to clean, and hung in a visible location with bright red colors to attract these birds. The red coloring on the feeder is particularly effective, as it helps hummingbirds spot the feeder from a distance and makes it more appealing to them.

Feeder Locations

To prevent territorial fights between hummingbirds and ensure their comfort, it’s advised to place feeders at least 15 feet apart. Additionally, the feeder should be placed in a quiet spot close to plants and flowers that hummingbirds already enjoy.

Make sure the area is not overly lush or leafy, as this could obscure the view and make it less appealing for the birds.

Multiple Feeders

Using multiple feeders in your yard provides several advantages. It presents more chances for hummingbirds to feed and draws in a greater number of birds.

Multiple feeders also allow more assertive hummingbirds to have a space that they can protect, reducing territorial disputes between hummingbirds and ensuring a harmonious environment for all.

Nectar: Recipes and Maintenance

Preparing the right nectar and maintaining its freshness is crucial for attracting hummingbirds to your yard.

In this section, we will discuss the homemade nectar recipe, the importance of avoiding harmful additives, and the best practices for feeder cleaning and nectar replacement.

Homemade Nectar Recipe

You can easily make your own hummingbird nectar at home by mixing 1 part refined table sugar to 4 parts warm water. This simple recipe provides the necessary nutrients for hummingbirds without any harmful additives.

If you prefer, pre-made nectar is also available for purchase, but making your own is more cost-effective and allows you to control the ingredients used.

Avoiding Harmful Additives

When preparing nectar for hummingbirds, it is essential to stick to the simple recipe of refined table sugar and warm water. Avoid adding honey, molasses, or other sweeteners to the nectar, as these can be toxic to hummingbirds and cause fermentation.

Artificial red dye should also be avoided, as it can be detrimental to the birds’ health.

Feeder Cleaning and Nectar Replacement

Regularly cleaning your hummingbird feeders is important to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold, which can spoil the sugar water and repel hummingbirds. It is recommended to clean feeders at least once every three or four days, particularly in hot weather.

Nectar should be replaced before it goes bad, which can be determined by weather conditions and signs of spoilage. If the nectar appears cloudy or emits a foul odor, it should be replaced without delay.

Water Sources for Hummingbirds

In addition to nectar, hummingbirds also need access to water sources for drinking and bathing.

In this section, we will explore the different types of water sources that attract hummingbirds, such as moving water, misters, drippers, and modified birdbaths.

Moving Water

Hummingbirds are particularly attracted to moving water sources, making them an excellent addition to your yard. You can create moving water by incorporating fountains, misters, and drippers into your garden. These features not only provide water for the birds, but also add a soothing ambiance that you and your family can enjoy.

Adding a water feature to your garden is a great way to attract hummingbirds and create a peaceful atmosphere. Not only will you be able to enjoy the beauty of the birds, but you will also be able to enjoy the beauty of the birds.

Misters and Drippers

Misters and drippers are devices that dispense water in different ways, providing a steady source of water for hummingbirds. Misters release a fine mist of water into the atmosphere, while drippers release water drops at a slow pace.

Setting up these devices in your yard can help attract hummingbirds and provide them with the water they need while adding a pleasing ambiance for you to enjoy.

Birdbath Modifications

Attracting hummingbirds using drippers can be achieved with both homemade and purchased options. If you have a deeper birdbath, you can make it more suitable for hummingbirds by constructing a shallow section using pebbles or stones. This modification ensures that the birds have a safe and comfortable place to drink and bathe in your yard.

Enhancing Your Yard for Hummingbirds

To further improve your yard’s appeal to hummingbirds, you can incorporate several additional enhancements. In this section, we will discuss the importance of providing perches, attracting beneficial insects, and using colorful visual cues to make your yard even more inviting for these flying jewels.

Perches are important for hummingbirds as they provide a place to rest and feed. Providing a variety of perches, such as branches, twigs, and even artificial perches.

Perches and Resting Spots

Providing perches and resting spots is essential for hummingbirds, as they need a place to rest, perch, hide, and take shelter. Ensuring that hummingbirds feel secure in your backyard environment is crucial for their wellbeing.

This can be achieved by adding native plants, shrubs, and small deciduous trees that provide shelter and hiding spots.

Insect Attraction

Insects play a significant role in the diet of hummingbirds, providing essential protein for their growth and development. To foster beneficial insects in your yard, avoid using pesticides or insecticides that would eliminate their food source.

Leave the cobwebs untouched; this creates an ideal hunting opportunity for hummingbirds. Gnats and other small insects will get caught in the webs, making them easy prey.

Colorful Visual Cues

Incorporating colorful visual cues like ribbons, streamers, and other decorations can help attract hummingbirds to your yard. Bright colors such as red, orange, pink, and yellow are particularly appealing to these birds, so consider using these hues in your garden decorations and accessories.

Additionally, planting flowers with trumpet-shaped blooms, such as the trumpet honeysuckle, can also serve as a visual cue to attract hummingbirds.

Summary

In conclusion, attracting hummingbirds to your yard involves a combination of native plants, feeders, nectar, water sources, and yard enhancements. By understanding the needs and preferences of these beautiful birds, you can create a stunning and inviting haven that both you and the hummingbirds will enjoy. With dedication and a little effort, your yard can become a sanctuary for these flying jewels, providing endless hours of fascination and delight.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get hummingbirds to come to my feeder?

Invite hummingbirds to visit your backyard by displaying red color and providing nectar and a water source. Hang feeders with red ribbons, and create a simple sugar and water mix for the sweet nectar solution.

Plant flowers and trees that provide food, shelter and perching spots for the birds. Provide a protein feeder to give hummingbirds an extra source of nutrition.

How long will it take for hummingbirds to find my feeder?

By following the typical advice, you can expect that it will take a couple of weeks before hummingbirds start to feed from your new feeder.

It is important to give them some time to find and become comfortable with the feeder before introducing any changes.

Where should you not hang a hummingbird feeder?

In conclusion, it is best to avoid hanging a hummingbird feeder near a window in order to reduce the risk of collisions.

Ideally, hang the feeders 10-12 feet away from bushes or near a sheltered area which the hummers can zip into when danger is afoot.

What brings hummingbirds to your yard?

Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is simple; plant a variety of native plants that produce high nectar content, such as trumpet honeysuckle, bee balm, and hummingbird sage.

Also, add brightly colored tubular flowers like red or orange to attract more of these charming birds. With these tips, you will soon have a wide variety of these avian beauties hovering over your garden!

Dawn Caffrey

Dawn Caffrey

Hummingbirds just make me happy - in fact, I read somewhere that they represent happiness in Native American totems.
Let me tell you what I found about feeders from treating the hummingbirds in my back yard.

About Me

Hummingbirds just make me happy – in fact, I read somewhere that they represent happiness in Native American totems.
Let me tell you what I found about feeders from treating the hummingbirds in my back yard.

Recent Posts

a hummingbird's best friend