With their glorious melodies and sparkling feathers, hummingbirds are just too fly to be walking.
Many of these rock star birds will migrate to Delaware this spring. But they probably won’t visit you unless you roll out the red carpet for them.
Here are some experts tips you can rely on to help out hummingbirds and attract them to your yard this year.
When should I set out feeders for hummingbirds?
Now is a good time to dust off and clean your birdfeeders because hummingbirds already have been spotted in Delaware, said Nicolas Gonzalez, spokesperson for the National Audubon Society.
More hummingbirds are set to migrate here over the next two weeks after columbine blooms, said Doug Tallamy, professor of agriculture and natural resources in the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware.
What do I put in my bird feeder?
The only food/nectar you need in your bird feeder is sugar and water. But make sure it’s white sugar (not brown). And the ratio between water to sugar should be 4:1, Tallamy said.
Stir up the water pretty well until the sugar dissolves in it. Also, routinely change the water.
More:How to make hummingbird food: Simple recipe helps attract hummingbirds to your yard
Never use any other sweeteners, honey or other substances, Gonzalez added.
“Those may contain things that can harm hummingbirds, and the sugar water as outlined here is an accurate mimic of natural flower nectar,” Gonzalez explained.
Where should I put my hummingbird feeder?
Hanging feeders under a tree with shade or under a porch is ideal for hummingbirds. After all, they don’t want to get burnt to a crisp in the summer.
Tallamy said if you have a window that’s surrounded by a shady area, that’ll also give you a cool view of the bird.
What hummingbirds are coming to Delaware?
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only breeding species east of the Rocky Mountains, which is the hummingbird you’ll most likely see in Delaware, Gonzalez said.
Later in the summer and into the fall, a few Western species occasionally can pop up (Rufous, Allen’s, Calliope, Anna’s, and others). But these are very rare, he explained.
How can we attract more hummingbirds?
Hummingbirds aren’t gonna stick around your yard just for a drink of sweet water. These creatures are really looking for the plants that feed them, as well as insects.
Ninety percent of their diet is from protein, mostly tiny insects.
Red flowers are attractive to the birds, said Matt Del Pizzo of Port Penn, past president of the Delaware Audubon Society.
More:What do birds eat? Here’s what to fill feeders with to bring more birds to your yard.
Other plants that hummingbirds enjoy include jewelweed, native oak trees, goldenrods and columbine.
“They want to breed, so they’re looking for places that are going to have enough food where they can rear their young,” Tallamy said.
How long will hummingbirds be in Delaware?
Fall migration of hummingbirds will probably extend through October in Delaware. Leaving your feeder out longer can help to attract more birds, Gonzales said.
The year is still young, and now is a good time to start preparing for these flapping cuties.
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