The humming bird is a busy little creature. Theyre always flying about searching for sources of nectar which provide them with the calories they need to maintain the metabolism. They are active little birds but once they find a reliable nectar source they tend to return frequently. Once learning there is food waiting for them, humming birds will actually return year after year. These tiny little birds are a treat to watch so if you provide them with a steady supply of nectar, they grace you with their presence.
Bright colors, particularly red attract humming birds. When buying or making a humming bird feeder this is important to keep in mind. These little feeders are typically made from glass or plastic and can be bought in many different sizes and a variety of shapes. When shopping for a humming bird feeder youll also notice that many of these feeders have several feeding ports. The commercial humming bird feeder will likely have red flowers surrounding these feeding ports which draw the tiny birds to them.
The nectar that is used in a humming bird feeder can be bought or to save money it can be made at home using water and white sugar cane. It is recommended to wash a humming bird feeder at least once each week making sure to get rid of any left-over nectar. If using commercial nectar, it will likely contain trace amounts of mineral nutrients which arent really necessary since the humming bird also eats insects which provide them with all the nutrients they need. Because the humming bird feeder is usually quite small, you can actually hang a few of them in a tree, then sit back and watch these beautiful little birds flock to them. Because the nectar is so inviting other animals are also attracted to the humming bird feeder. It is important to safeguard the feeder ports with things such as wasp guards. Insuring the port holes are small will also prevent bees and wasps for example from entering and being trapped in a humming bird feeder.