Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Well it's that time of year again, time for the return of the ruby-throated hummingbirds. Here in Ohio they usually arrive from mid April to early May. As I stated in my last post they usually arrive in my back yard here in northern Ohio around May 5th.

I think allot of people do not realize how easy they are to attract. As you can see in the picture taken by my sister Toni, they are not shy at all either. As a matter of fact I had them landing on my finger last year while feeding. I would simply hold the feeder still while cupped in my hands and they would come in, buzz around looking at me for a second then settle in and start lapping up the nectar. The trick was keeping the feeder close to the location that you had it placed. This feeder just happened to be on my kitchen window. It was nice to wake up each day and watch them feed.

There are several ways to attract them to your yard. The obvious is the use of a feeder. Here in northern Ohio, I always put mine out on April 15th. It's better to put them out early while they are still migrating than putting them out late. Putting out multiple feeders out is also a good idea as they are very territorial. I watch them chasing each other off of the feeders all summer. Also space your feeders out. Like I said they are territorial and if they constantly have to fight for one feeder there's a chance they just may move on to another location.

There is no need to buy the nectar mix though you can if you like. I found that using a simple mixture of four parts water to one part sugar works great. I just put four cups of water to one cup of sugar. I then put it on the stove and bring it to a boil. Once it starts boiling turn the heat off and let it cool. You can then fill your feeders and what ever you do not use you can put it in the refrigerator. It will keep for about two weeks. Also there is no need to add food color. While it's not true that red attracts them, sum research suggest the dye is also not good for them. My neighbor was using the store bought nectar last year with red coloring to it. He could not understand why the hummingbirds preferred my feeders over his. I told him to make his own mixture and once he did the hummers started feeding in his back yard as well.

Keeping the feeder clean is a must. I change the nectar at least twice a week during the summer, more if it's a really hot week. You can smell the feeder and tell that it needs changed. Also if you notice that your not seeing the hummingbirds at a feeder you normally see them at, it's a good sign the feeder needs washed and the nectar changed.

Another thing you'll want is a mote above the feeder. These are simply a cup that hangs from the post or Shepard's pole you have the feeder at. You fill the mote with water and this prevents ants from getting to the feeder. If the feeder has ants in it (and it most certainly will with out a mote) the hummers will usually stop using it. You can find the ant motes at any bird feeding store, online and sometimes at Walmart. They run from .99 to about $5. I'm also sure if you google it there are directions online for making your own.

It's also a good idea to plant flowers and shrubs which will attract them. Red petunias are good or any plant with a trumpet shaped flower. A honey suckle bush really draws them in. If you go to most garden centers or even Lowes or the Home Depot, most of the plants are labeled and will say if they attract humming birds. But once again the most important thing is feeder placement. Do not hang your hummingbird feeders with your other bird feeders, keep the separate. Also as I stated before try to put out more than one feeder. I usually place my feeders among my bushes and flowers, a place your most likely to find them with out the feeders.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is found through out the entire eastern half of the United States. They range as far west as Texas and as far north as Canada. During the winter migration they will fly non stop across the Gulf of Mexico to get to Central America. That being said, it just another reason to put some feeders out for these little gems so they are well fueled for their journey.

One tool you can use to attract hummingbirds that I forgot to mention earlier is a mister. This connects to a garden hose and puts a fine mist into the air. Hummingbirds do not "usually" come to bird baths, instead they usually obtain their water as they fly through a rain or mist. I do not have one but have watched video of them using a mister and it's pretty cool watching them use it. I may get one this year, if I do I'll try and get some pictures and post on it at a later date.

I'll leave you with some facts on them in closing. A hummingbird beats its wings 53 time a second. It's extremely short legs prevents it from walking or hopping. Instead it tends to shuffle along a perch. It can however use its tiny legs to reach over its wings and scratch its head. As I told you earlier feeder placement is more important than the color red. It eats by hovering at flowers, sap wells and feeders. They have an extremely long tongue used to retrieve the nectar. It also flies along catching bugs in the air and plucking them from leaves. They will also pluck spiders from webs. They usually only lay 2 eggs in an open cupped nest placed 6-50 feet off the ground with an average height of 10-20 feet off the ground. They breed in mixed woodlands and eastern deciduous forest, gardens, and orchards. They winter in tropical deciduous forest, tropical dry forests, scrub land, citrus groves, and second growth.

I hope I've covered all you need to know about the species. I also hope it has encouraged you to draw these little emerald jewels to your yard and garden. If your not looking for them you will often dismiss them as a bee. I'm sure once you start feeding them and attracting them to your yard you'll always be looking forward to the day they return and dreading the day they head south for the winter. As always if there's a question you have that I did not answer just leave a comment or send me an email.