Bird Basics

Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is nearly as simple as hanging out a hummingbird feeder.  Keeping them in your yard all summer long means offering them a suitable habitat in which to raise their young.

Melissa Block, our Wayzata store manager has a certified backyard wildlife habitat and shares some information with you on attracting and keeping hummingbirds.

LANDSCAPE FOR THEM
Offer a variety of flowers for a beautiful yard and natural nectar source. Use native varieties, whenever and wherever possible. These plants are especially suited for a northern climate and most of the time they require less maintenance. Provide these in a mixture of sun and shade, in differing heights, and different blooming times.

PERRENIALS: American Columbine, Bee Balm, Blazing Star, Butterfly Bush, Cardinal Flower, Clematis, Day Lillies, Garden Phlox, Gladiolas, Hollyhocks, Purple Coneflower, Rose of Sharon
ANNUALS: Nasturtium, Nicotiana, Impatiens, Petunia, Salvia, Zinnias

NESTING
Hummingbirds will nest in a variety of leafy trees. They build their tiny cup-shaped nests using plant down (especially willow and dandelion), plant fibers and spider silk.  You can view a photo journal of a hummingbird nest here.

BATHING
Hummingbirds prefer misting water and can often be seen flying through the spray of a lawn sprinkler.

DIET
Hummingbirds will catch insects on the wing and grab unsuspecting spiders from their webs. Fortunately, they love nectar and are easily enticed to all types of hummingbird feeders.  Hummingbirds are territorial and ounce-for-ounce probably one of the most aggressive birds out there.  When placing your feeders we recommend setting up several different feeders at least 6' apart.  This will help disperse the birds and gives them room to enjoy your nectar without fighting.

Making Hummingbird Nectar is fairly simple:  Use 1 part sugar to 4 parts water.  Boil them for 1 minute (to help prevent fermentation) and allow to cool before serving up to your birds.  Do NOT use honey, artificial sweetners or food coloring.  You may refrigerate nectar for up to one week.  Remember to scrub your feeders and offer new nectar every 3 days during the warm summer months.