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Choosing The Perfect Humming Bird Feeders

There’s nothing quite as beautiful or intriguing as the hummingbird and what could be more fun than enticing them into your very own yard. Start by choosing the perfect humming bird feeders. They’ll quickly entice the birds to arrive.

You might be surprised to find out that this type of feeder actually dates back to the late 1920’s and started with using small glass bottles. But by the 1950’s the feeder had certainly seen some remarkable changes and fine tuning.

Art glass has long been a popular style for hummingbird feeders and today it remains so with many elaborate styles being produced. Many of these feeders are hand made often from bits and pieces like rubber stoppers, glass tubing, flask, and all kinds of other apparatus.

In recent years the interest in feeding hummingbirds has grown tremendously one of the reason there seems to be so many feeders available.

And the good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune. Of course you can if you want to. These feeders start at the low end and then quickly climb to a high end feeder that’s also a work of art. Very interesting!

Hummingbird feeders tend to be much more ornate then many of the other feeders on the market so with so many choices it’s rather a good idea to at least have a bit of an idea about what you are looking for. You can choose mass produced and cheap or one of a kind and pricey.

Commercial feeders are available in a full range of shapes and size so no matter what you want it’s out there. Plastic is commonly used on these but watch for the glass ones as they are a far better investment and they are much nicer looking.

The best hummingbird feeders are easy to clean, easy to hang, nice and sturdy, and have a minimum number of parts that can get lost.

Glass is very handy because it is easy to clean and sterilize. The biggest disadvantage is that it can be highly breakable and a bit on the heavy side. That said it’s very affordable and it can be spectacular in design and artistic impression.

The number of feeding ports will depend on the size of the feeder. There can be as little as one or more than three. Hummingbirds will either flutter and eat or occasionally rest.

The most common mistake is buying a feeder that is too large. If you buy a feeder that’s too big and the sugar mix doesn’t get eaten fast enough it will turn sour before it gets changed out. Placing several smaller feeders around the yard is a much smarter idea than placing one large feeder.

Common materials are glass, ceramic, and plastic. If you are replacing existing feeders and your birds seem to like a specific style then stick with it otherwise they will need to relearn and sometimes they just move on.

Remember that just because a feeder attracts you as a human it doesn’t mean it attracts the birds. Make sure the design you choose is highly functional as well as decorative.

The debate still rages on as to whether you should choose a feeder with a perch. Many believe that the perch isn’t necessary and anyone that photographs these birds prefers them hovering. It makes for some spectacular shots.

Make sure you place them where they can be seen. After all watching these beautiful creatures is both entertaining and educational. And you certainly don’t want to miss what they have to offer.

Most hummingbirds migrate in the winter and leaving a feeder out for them won’t stop them from leaving. Most leave in October and return sometime in March. If you decide to keep that feeder out for any stragglers fill it only half full and bring it in at night.

There are some outstanding pieces available. In fact some are so beautiful you’d almost have to call them works of art. Besides enjoying these beautiful little birds in your back yard think about the great statement you’ll make to your yard décor.

The hummingbird gets all that energy from the nectar of the flower and sugar water found in feeders. You have to admit that’s pretty incredible. They will get protein from eating spiders and insects. There are also commercial nectar mixes that you can buy.

To make your own mix just take 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Mix it up and store the left over syrup in your fridge. It will store 2 weeks. Many prefer to boil the water and then let the mix cool but that is really not necessary and the fermentation doesn’t actually come from the water.

Humming bird feeders are readily available online and the selection far exceeds what you might find at the local level. So isn’t it time to take five and go hunting for that perfect feeder?

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