Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Yard: Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are truly remarkable and fascinating little birds, and you can attract these flying jewels to your yard with a few easy steps. Flowers, feeders, perches, and water are the key ingredients to a healthy yard that will attract hummingbirds.

To make your own hummingbird food, simply mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water (1/4 cup sugar + 1 cup water) and bring to a boil for a few minutes. Let the mixture cool and fill the feeder. Do not use any red dye, and be sure to clean the feeder on a regular basis.

When planting flowers to attract hummingbirds or other pollinators, try to stick to native plants. You’ll want to plant a diversity of flower species, but plant them in clumps to make it most efficient for pollinators. Hummingbirds are also attracted to the color red, so red feeders and flowers will be visited the most. Plants such as the red columbine, cardinal flower, and beebalm are all great options for hummingbirds.

Finally, consider putting flowers and feeders in areas where hummingbirds will be safe from predators, and avoid using insecticides, herbicides, or other pesticides around your garden or feeder as they could have harmful effects on hummingbirds. Find more tips on creating a hummingbird-friendly yard on Audubon’s website at http://ow.ly/iVdc30oO9OI