Even though your Northeast Wildlife Garden may still be blanketed in snow, it’s time to start thinking about hummingbirds.
The first of these tiny migrants have arrived at the Gulf Coast, after an exhausting journey across the Gulf of Mexico. Now we will not see them here in the northeast for several weeks, but after this long, cold, hard winter, just knowing that they’re coming brings great joy to my winter weary soul!
And now is the time to prepare for their return to your wildlife garden so that you have all the elements in place by the time that they get here.
First, get out your hummingbird feeders and make sure that they are clean. Hopefully you gave them a good scrubbing when you took them down for the winter. So now you can just give them a nice wiping off.
Remember, you don’t need to purchase any of that red-dyed “Hummingbird Nectar” that you often see at the grocery store or the pet store. This is expensive and there’s some evidence to suggest that dye may cause illness in the hummingbirds. If you purchase a red-colored feeder, there is really no need to dye the nectar.
It’s really quite easy to make your own nectar for your hummingbird feeders. Simply add one cup of sugar to four cups of water and heat until the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool, and fill your feeders. Easy peasy, right?
You’ll probably want to hang more than one feeder, because these feisty little birds can be VERY territorial over “their” feeder.
Take some time to learn about the natural history of hummingbirds and what they need from their environment. With this knowledge you are better prepared to create a haven for these beautiful birds in your wildlife garden.
Now you want to start thinking about what plants you can add to your wildlife garden that will best provide natural food sources for hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are often attracted to red flowers with a tubular shape, but they visit flowers of other colors, too.
The best native flowers for hummingbirds in the northeast are:
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
- Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
- Bleeding Heart (Dicentra eximia)
- Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemmon digitalis)
- Lyre-leaved Sage (Salvia lyrata)
- Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
These tiny birds with very long bills and amazing feats of acrobatic flight are one of my favorite visitors to my wildlife garden, and I’ve spent many a happy hour watching them visit the flowers I’ve planted for them.
What do you do to attract hummingbirds to your wildlife garden?
Danielle says
Hummingbirds sure are great to see after a long, cold winter. I’m planning on hanging up hummingbird feeders, too, and I’ll also be making my own nectar with water and sugar- easy peasy is right!
Carole Brown says
Danielle, this winter did seem really long, didn’t it? I am so itching to get outside into my garden, but I have to wait a little bit more because the ground is still frozen. Just knowing that the hummingbirds are on the way is warming my thoughts already.
Robin Robinson says
Carol, a big fat old congrats on this! And a great post, too!
Carole Brown says
Thanks, Robin! It’s so nice to see you here 🙂
Melanie (baconseed) says
My daughter is squealing with delight at the sight of this hummingbird photo. We will definitely be adding a feeder, and some hummingbird plants to our garden this season!
Carole Brown says
Melanie, your daughter and I would get along great, as I squeal with delight every time I see a hummingbird, too 🙂 Stop back and tell us what plants you’ve added to attract hummingbirds.
Blair Cessna says
Carol, My wife Roe and I are also eagerly awaiting the return of “our” Ruby’s. We normally have a dozen or so different types of Hummingbird feeders hung out around our deck in the summer. It’s usually May 1st or so before we see our first one. During the summer months it’s not uncommon for us to have 50 or so resident hummers at our place. We are certain that most of them have been here previously as the know where the feeders are hung and when they m(the feeders) aren’t out yet they (the hummers) will hover in the area where the feeders were and squawk until we get them hung up. We also make our own nectar. Looking forward to the approaching season. From Chemung, NY (near Elmira, NY)
Carole Brown says
Blair, I’m in Philadelphia and usually see my first Rubys in mid April, so I am chomping at the bit knowing they’re here but still so far away. I know that at least one female nests on my property, but I’ve been unsuccessful so far in spotting the nest. It’s always so much fun to watch the youngsters right after they first fledge. They do look a bit goofy. And yes, for a tiny little bird, they really can be quite demanding!
Tessa Shepperson says
What a lovely article! We don’t have humming birds in England where I live, so this sounds so exotic! Love the picture
Carole Brown says
Thanks, Tessa! They really are a fun bird to watch and there’s many different kinds throughout North and South America, but you’re right it would be quite a miracle if one of them made it across the ocean to England! I’ve always wanted to go birding in England. You have quite a few birds that we don’t see here. Someday I’ll make it there 🙂
Karen W. Jenkins says
Love hummingbirds! I am also anxious to try coaxing Orioles. Any suggestions?
Carole Brown says
Hi Karen! Orioles love fruit, so planting lots of fruiting native shrubs is a good long term strategy. In the meantime, you can attract them with oranges, grape jelly, melons, and other soft juicy fruit. I just saw a great idea on the Birds and Blooms facebook page about using a suet cage and filling it with halved oranges. I’m definitely going to try that this year.
Karen W. Jenkins says
II have 2 hummingbird feeders and other plants they like. It’s wild (and scary) to see them fighting over territory. Known about the home-made nectar for a long time. Unless you have a lot of feeders, don’t fill them all the way. I make sugar syrup and just fill a little bit, refrigerating the rest. My feeders fill up with ants so I like to clean them once a week. The sugar also turns black with dirt & mildew since I live in area of high humidity. Thanks for the great info.! Glad I found this blogspot 🙂
Carole Brown says
Karen, you’re so right about the importance of keeping your feeders clean! I clean mine out every few days. I make a big batch of hummingbird juice at once and keep the backup in the fridge. Then it’s so easy to clean the feeder and fill it so that I can put it back in the garden very quickly.
Kelly Brenner says
We get a year-round hummingbird here in Seattle, the Anna’s, but soon we should be seeing the Rufus again too. When I first started adding plants to my 6th floor balcony in the city, I was lucky enough to get hummingbirds coming to visit my lavender plants. I like the lavender because I can use it as an herb and share it with the hummingbirds, bees and hoverflies too. This year I have planted seeds of some more native flowers like Orange Trumpet Honeysuckle in the hopes of offering more variety to the hummingbirds and insects, so we’ll see what happens!
Carole Brown says
Kelly, I didn’t know that the Anna’s stayed in Seattle year round. How cool is that? My brother lives on the 25th floor of a New York City highrise, and I made a hummingbird garden for him there with some coral honeysuckle, cardinal flower, and some annual salvias. He didn’t think it would work, but boy was he thrilled to have hummingbird visitors there.
BirdGalAlcatraz says
Very nice post, Carole. Like Kelly, I have Anna’s year-round here in California. I see them every day even through winter and can see my two feeders from where I’m sitting right now. They’re such delights!
Carole Brown says
BirdGal, that’s so awesome that you get to see these beautiful birds all year round. I would totally love that 🙂
judyofthewoods says
Is there any long distance attractant? Would be so nice to see them in my garden in Wales.
Carole Brown says
LOL Judy, if there was an attractant for that every birder in Europe would be in your garden. You could charge admission!
Debra says
It’s so inspiring to think of the little hummers being on their way north. Thanks for reminding me that spring is around the corner!
Carole Brown says
Yes, spring will come…..soon I hope!
Pamela Wilson says
This is so inspiring: I can’t wait to see hummingbirds return! Thanks for the info on making food for them. I didn’t realize it was that easy. Time to dig out my feeder and start preparing …
Carole Brown says
It really is easy, Pamela. Put your feeder right outside your window so you can enjoy them while you work.
Kenny Point says
I’m glad you reminded me because I usually don’t think about the feeders until AFTER I’ve spotted the first hummingbirds in my garden. This year I will have a meal waiting when they show up and it won’t include red dye #40 this time around. Thanks for the tips.
Carole Brown says
Kenny, I’ve been known to get caught unawares, too, and am then scrambling to get the nectar made and the feeders out after I’ve spotted my first hummer of the season. This year, though, I want to be prepared. And it’s so easy to do that by following the link above in the first paragraph.
Journey North is a great website because you can report your first hummer sighting, and also track their progress north. They also track Monarch butterflies and other migrants.
Xavier says
Last year I had tons of humming birds. I live in Tennessee. I have had my feeders out since March and keeping it clean with fresh nectar. It is now June and still none. Other family members are stating they haven’t seen them yet either. Any thoughts I really miss them.
Shelia Wynne says
I also live in Tennessee, and don’t have any hummingbirds. Last year I had almost 30 hummingbirds. I know of 2 more people in Tennessee that have not seen any hummingbirds either this year. Does anybody know what is going on.
Gloria Earl says
I live in Indiana and last year had lots of hummers. I moved to another neighborhood, put up feeders in front and back yards and haven’t had but a couple of hummers. Is anybody else having the same problem?
Carole Sevilla Brown says
At this time of year, hummingbirds are nesting and are often quite well hidden. Keep your feeders out and clean them regularly. After the eggs hatch and the juveniles leave their nest you’ll probably see many hummingbirds at your feeders. Then when migration starts, your feeders will be a star attraction.
Ann says
As of July 12, 2011, I have seen only one hummer at my feeder & that was on April 29, none since (not to say they have not been there). At this point, however, I normally see at least three @ a time, but nada, once or twice/day. The zinnias are blooming, the red impatiens are doing fine, thank you, but where are the hummers (in the area about 15 miles) south of Nashville? Any observations from others? (Just heard from a co-worker who lives about 1 hr. SE of our Brentwood, TN ofc. that he saw one last evening. His yard /flower garden area normally has quite a few.) Thanks!