By Em
When I’m feeling overwhelmed or that the cards are stacked against me, few things can jolt me back to reality faster than seeing a Ruby-throated Hummingbird buzzing around my backyard. These tiny but mighty birds weigh less than an ounce, yet they fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico TWICE each year. That’s a 20-hour trip, and with nowhere to land in the middle, there’s no room for error. And I think I’ve got challenges?
There are several species of hummingbirds in the United States, but here in the northwoods we only see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. They usually arrive in late April, nest here for the summer and then depart again for Central America in early October.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have such short legs that they are unable to hop or walk like other songbirds. But they are amazing flyers and can “adjust their position up, down, sideways and backwards with minute control.” They can reach speeds of 24 miles per hour.
I attract hummingbirds to my backyard by growing some of their favorite flowers each year like cardinal flower, salvias and bee balm.
But anyone can attract hummingbirds to their property by growing a few annual flowers that do well in pots and planters like petunias, impatiens or lantana. These plants are easily found at garden centers each spring and will thrive on patios and decks.
And if you’re not into gardening at all there’s still an easy way to attract hummingbirds. Provide a hummingbird nectar feeder instead. I like this one because it has a good ant moat and it keeps out wasps (note: this is not an affiliate link).
What do I fill my feeder with? The recipe is 4 parts water to 1 part white, granulated sugar (no honey or sugar substitutes). Simply boil the water and mix in the sugar until you no longer see the crystals. Then let it cool before filling your feeder.
The nectar will last without spoiling for about a week (but less time in extremely hot weather). If you have leftover nectar you can store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. I find that boiling 4 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar is enough to fill two of the feeders I linked to above.
You can learn even more about hummingbirds and how to attract them here.