By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray
I was so happy to see the first hummingbird at my feeder the last week in April. In reviewing my garden journal entries for the past eight years, I know that there is very little variation regarding when I see the first one. The earliest I’ve seen one was April 27 and the latest has been May 2 – so this one was right on time. I get the feeders ready and set out around mid-April in anticipation of late April visitors.
Here in Connecticut, we will be most likely to see the ruby throated hummingbird.
Hummingbirds winter in South or Central America and begin their migration to North America in early February. They travel during the day at a low altitude so that they can see the nectar sources that they require for the long journey. According to Hummingbird Central, an enthusiast website, the birds are expert at using tailwinds to save energy and have been found to travel up to 23 miles in a single day. They are unique in that their hearts beat up to 1,260 times per minute and their wings flap between 15-80 times a second. They require a tremendous amount of energy to support this level of activity.
As well as consuming nectar, hummingbirds also eat small insects like aphids and spiders as a protein source. Their favorite color is red, which is why so many of the commercial feeders are colored red. I think that the feeders that are “flying saucer” shaped are easier to maintain than those that are bottle shaped, but either type will work well.
You can make your own hummer food or nectar by dissolving one part sugar into four parts water. Either boil the water or heat it in the microwave until the sugar is completely dissolved and then allow it to cool before filling the feeder. You should not add red food coloring, since some colorings have harmful chemicals. You should change the solution at least once a week. I run my feeders through the dishwasher every few weeks to sterilize them.
Remember that hummers are very territorial – we often see them chasing away competition from one feeder to another. If you want to hang more than one feeder, try to have them out of sight of each other.
Hummers also need a water source. If your bird bath is too deep for these tiny birds, you can put some flat rocks in the center so that they have a place to land. As with all bird baths, clean them frequently with a stiff brush to prevent bacterial growth.
You can also plant specific plants that will attract the hummers – generally bright colors with tubular shapes. Some good choices are butterfly bush, lantana, milkweed and salvia. Many of these hummer favorites are also butterfly favorites to double your viewing pleasure.
I hope that you’ll be hearing the “hum” soon. You can get up to date information on their migration at hummingbirdcentral.com. You can also enter data on when you see your first hummer to keep the map updated throughout the season.
Pat Dray is a past president of the Garden Club of Orange and a master gardener.