National Hummingbird Day falls on the first Friday in September. Here are five things you can do to celebrate your favorite flying jewels!
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Try a New Feeder on National Hummingbird Day
The best way to see hummingbirds on the first Saturday in September, for National Hummingbird Day? Feed hummingbirds! If you don’t already have a hummingbird feeder in your backyard, consider adding one. If you already have a hummingbird feeder, consider adding a second feeder — hummers can often be ferociously territorial. Adding a second feeder at least 15 feet away from the first can ensure more birds have a chance to drink.
No matter how many feeders you have, always make sure you’re making nectar with the proper sugar-to-water ratio. Plus, never add red dye or other hummingbird-harmful foods.
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Add Hummingbird-Favorite Plants to Your Garden
If you’d rather add natural food sources, you can opt to plant hummingbird flowers in your garden. These flowers are pretty for humans, too; late summer- and fall-blooming hummingbird nectar plants include coral honeysuckle, catmint, a few types of sage, and blazing star. Hummingbirds have excellent memories and will recall food sources you offer, so you’ll likely see them throughout the season, and possibly even after they migrate back in the spring.
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Practice Hummingbird Photography on National Hummingbird Day
Why admire a hummingbird for an instant when you could snap a photo and admire it for a lifetime? Hummingbird photography allows you to immortalize your favorite backyard visitors, and it’s a fun pastime, too. Of course, any bird photography takes practice, but capturing hummingbirds through a lens takes special work. There’s no better time than National Hummingbird Day to dig out your camera and brush up on your skills.
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Add a Hummingbird Fountain or Bird Bath
Surprisingly, hummingbirds don’t need to drink much water — they’ll take advantage of a water source to clean their feathers, though. You can provide for them with a bird bath, or even a hummingbird mister (which you can make at home). You’ll love watching them splash around, and they’ll be able to stay clean as they prepare for their long migration journey.
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Learn Fun Facts or Read About Hummingbirds
One great way to celebrate our favorite flying jewels is to learn more about them. Hummingbirds remain one of the most fascinating bird species on the planet; how do they fly so quickly? Can they walk? How fast do their hearts beat? Learn all about these birds, then, next time you see one, you can impress friends and family with your knowledge.
