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The hummingbird fascinates us as we watch it extract nectar from flowers or our brightly colored feeders, because a hummingbirds wings flap at such a high rate of speed they seem to be suspended in air.

Watching & attracting hummingbirds to our flower gardens has become very popular. Therefore, dozens of styles of hummingbird feeders have emerged.

Some of the feeders on the market are very artistic, nothing wrong with a nice design as long as they meet the purpose intended, attracting & feeding hummingbirds.

So how do we know what to look for in a hummingbird feeder?

Even though hummingbirds seem perfectly happy flying while they’re feeding, they actually prefer to sit, so a feeder with a built in perch is ideal.

Unless you actually know how populated your garden will be, start out with a smaller feeder.

A clean feeder makes a happy hummingbird. Be sure to purchase a feeder that is easy to clean & maintain. Keep your feeder filled so you’ll attract more hummingbirds.

Add-on ant moats or built-in ant protective feeders will help control those pesky ants.

Bees & wasps love the color yellow so stay away from hummingbird feeders with yellow features. Consider the shape of your feeder find one that keeps the bees & wasps from reaching & feeding off your nectar mixture.

Hummingbirds are attracted to red, red, red.

Find a wind & rain resisitent hummingbird feeder. Rain water will dilute & contaminate your nectar solution. If your feeder doesn’t have a rain guard, you can purchase metal or plastic disks, designed just for hummingbird feeders. A new pole mounted wind resistant feeder is also now available on the market.

Finally a recipe for that wonderful nectar the hummingbirds love to feed on.

The recipe to keep your hummingbirds happy, healthy & returning to your garden:

It has not actually been completely proven that red dye is unhealthy for hummingbirds, so why take the chance. Buy feeders that have a red component. That should be sufficient enough to attract the birds.

Pre-mixed hummingbird nectars are very expensive. The extra vitamins & minerals listed on the packages are not a necessity for the hummingbirds, as ½ of their diet consists of insects they extract from fresh flowers & plants.

One part sugar & four parts warm tap water, never use distilled or water which comes from a water softener. Stir until the sugar has dissolved. If you use boiling water to make your mixture do not add to the bird feeder until it has cooled to the touch.

Most hummingbird feeders hold enough mixture for about three days, if your solution turns cloudy throw it away even if you think it’s a fresh batch.

For winter feedings, three parts water & one part sugar it will help the sugar solution become more weather resistant & stop freezing.

Never use Honey, because it’s becomes toxic & fatal once it starts to ferment, which it does very rapidly.

Hummingbirds like to bath, like other birds, but they usually like the water that drips from leaves, fountains, or lawn sprinklers. Consider placing one of your hummingbird feeders amongst trees or your garden that is in reach of your fountains orlawn sprinkler system Then grab your favorite lawn or deck chair, sit back & enjoy the view.

Written by Tina Rideout. For lots more information regarding Hummingbirds & Feeders visit her at: Hummingbird Feeders