onto the bee guard, it will foster wasp visits rather than discouraging Attracting them. In basin feeders, the wa- ter is often too far within for wasps The tiniest in the world are also among the most fascinating and the to reach, though easiest to watch, sometimes from inches away in your window feeders. tongues have no trouble, so these feeders are often the best choice for Feeding hummingbirds is fun and rewarding and, when done properly, can discouraging flying insect pests. also make life easier for hummingbirds. Hummingbirds get quick energy Some basin feeders have ant moats. from sugar-water feeders, energy that fuels their search for the insects and Fill these with plain water to dis- courage ants while helping chicka- flowers which provide most of their nourishment. dees and other little birds that some- Sugar water can be offered in anything from hamster water bottles to beau- times take drinks from the moats. A small dab of petroleum jelly around tifully crafted blown-glass creations costing hundreds of dollars. Although the hanging wire may also keep many hummingbirds are named for rare jewels, they don’t care about price. crawling insect pests away. Hummingbirds are exceptionally How can you choose feeders that are most beneficial for hummingbirds? territorial and often fight with one Selecting Feeders another. You will attract more hum- The most important fea- mingbirds that can feed with fewer ture of a good humming- disruptions if you place several small feeder is that it be easy feeders around your yard rather than to open and to clean. If you just one large feeder. Hummingbird can’t easily reach every bit of sugar solutions should be changed inside surface with a bottle brush, fairly often, so unless you have a the feeder will soon foster bacteria, great many hummingbirds, smaller fungi, and other harmful organisms. feeders are also less wasteful. Feeders should have red parts. Filling the Feeders Flowers pollinated by It’s easy to make your own hum- hummingbirds are mingbird solution. Use granulated Hamster water bottles and similar often red, and hum- cane sugar and unsoftened, non-dis- items are much more likely to attract mingbirds are tilled hot drinking water. The ideal hummingbirds if part of the glass is attracted to ratio is usually 1/4 cup of sugar per painted with red nail polish or some- that color. cup of water; your mixture should thing red is placed on them. never be stronger than that during Some feeders come with bee hot, dry weather. During cold, rainy guards—plastic screens that fit over weather, you can make it stronger, the feeding ports. When these are using up to 1/3 cup of sugar per cup yellow, they may actually attract yel- of water. If you’re having problems low jacket wasps. Those feeders that with insects, a solution of 1/5 cup of come with bee guards tend to be sugar per cup of water may discour-

Evan Barbour Evan rather drippy, and if solution drips age the insects without losing the 159 Sapsucker Woods Road • Ithaca, New York 14850 • 607 254-BIRD Set feeders in the coolest areas of Helping Hummingbirds What hummingbirds have your yard and where there is some Fostering locally-native plants protection from wind. Humming- attractive to hummingbirds will pro- been found in your state? birds are unusually fearless and come vide an abundance of natural food Go to www.ebird.org and see! readily to window feeders. You can for them and give you more oppor- hang hooks into your window fram- tunities to view these charismatic Click on “View and Explore Data,” ing or use feeders that attach directly creatures at close range. Learn about and then click on “all-time first/ on glass with suction cups. the best plant choices from local If bees or wasps discover your conservation organizations. last records.” Enter your state feeder, you may confuse them, at Hummingbirds are often drawn to and scroll down to humming- least for a while, by moving the sapsucker drill holes for insects and feeders to new places, often just a birds. You may be surprised! running sap, so try not to discourage few feet away. these interesting woodpeckers. Maintaining Hummingbird Feeders Setting out banana peels near hum- hummingbirds’ interest. The con- Bacteria and fungi grow more rap- mingbird feeders will foster fruit centration of in natural flower idly as the temperature rises. When flies and other nutritious soft-bodied nectar varies within this range. the thermometer reaches 80 degrees insects which hummingbirds eat. It’s exciting to watch hummingbirds Many people boil sugar water before Fahrenheit, scrub your feeders with a clean bottle brush and very hot wa- darting about chasing down these using. This isn’t necessary if your tiny flying insects. drinking water is safe for you as long ter and refill every three days. When as you change the solution every it’s over 90 degrees, sugar water Don’t use insecticides or herbicides few days. Hummingbird bills and may be spoiled in two days or less. anywhere in your yard. Humming- tongues quickly introduce microor- Even when temperatures are cool it’s birds construct their nests with spi- ganisms that cause spoilage anyway. best to clean feeders and change the der silk. Fostering spiders will both Leftover solution can be refrigerated solution fairly often. If you see any encourage hummingbirds to nest for up to two weeks. sign of cloudy water or black mold, near you and control many insect discard the solution and clean the pests naturally. Honey fosters bacterial and fungal feeder immediately. growth and ferments faster than Never allow cats to roam anywhere sugar water, so should never be used Always rinse feeders in hot or near where hummingbirds feed or in hummingbird feeders. Red food boiling water before adding fresh rest. solution. At least once a month, and coloring is completely unnecessary Learn More! and may be harmful. Commercial immediately if black mold is de- www.birds.cornell.edu/ mixtures with added vitamins and tected, soak emptied feeders for one AllAboutBirds minerals (and often food coloring) hour in a weak vinegar solution and are a needless expense, and mixtures then scrub with a clean bottle brush. www.hummingbirds.net Rinse well with running water be- formulated for captive humming- www.sabo.org/hummers.htm birds spoil within hours. Hum- fore refilling. mingbirds that frequent feeders get a balanced diet by also eating many natural foods, including nectar and Enhance Your Enjoyment of Birds plenty of insects. and Help Promote a Better Understanding of Them Placing the Feeders Hummingbirds prefer feeders near Join the Cornell Lab of . Your annual membership helps trees and shrubs, where they can support research, education, and citizen-science projects, including perch to rest and observe their sur- studies about the movements of birds and the changes in their numbers roundings, and can feed on nearby over time. You’ll receive subscriptions to our award-winning magazine, natural food between visits. Plants Living Bird, our newsletter, BirdScope, and more. with red, tube-shaped blooms, such Call (800) 843-2473 (if calling from the United States) or (607) 254- as bee-balm, trumpet vine, and jew- 2473 (international calls). Or visit . elweed, are very attractive to hum- mingbirds, as are trees with sap wells © 2008 Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. drilled by sapsuckers.

159 Sapsucker Woods Road • Ithaca, New York 14850 • 607 254-BIRD