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| Black-chinned Hummingbirds |
Hummingbirds have arrived in north Texas - in great numbers. Many of them will, after resting, continue their northward migration. To encourage as many as possible to stay around, try the suggestions below;
Put up more than one feeder – First, there should be enough spots for Hummingbirds to sip
nectar without waiting in line. Put up enough feeders for the number of
Hummingbirds you could have, not
just the number that you have today. Feeders should not be visible from each other, or the tiny birds (which are very possessive) will fight others off.
Keep nectar fresh
– Fresh nectar attracts them, and stale repels them. If they get a sip of stale
nectar at your house, they won’t bring fledglings or friends by. Nectar gets
stale quickly on a super-hot Texas day. We change nectar every 6 or 7 days
normally. But when it’s really hot, we’ll go to every other day.
Avoid most insect killers. - Most insecticides kill every insect around, even butterflies (which are insects). But when all the insects are dead, Hummingbirds can't exist just on nectar. About a third of their diet (similar to many other birds) is protein-rich insects.
Plant hummer plants
– Hummingbirds look for nectar from flowers in addition to feeders. Some plants
have far sweeter nectar than others. Birds know
this, and are drawn to them (so are butterflies) and often encourage their
youngsters to feed there. Try Lantana, Turk's Cap, Mistflower and Flame Acanthus in north Texas.
Water source – Just like humans, Hummingbirds need something
to drink with meals. Water from a hose-run dripper or mister on a birdbath is
ideal (a dripping faucet works too). They’ll use it to drink, to bathe, and
just to play in.
Follow these
guidelines and it’s a safe bet the number of Hummingbirds in your yard will
grow. The main reason is that the parents almost always bring youngsters back
to where they were raised - if it was a good, safe environment.
That annoying pecking! Many birds will peck vigorously and endlessly at a window – or anything else
reflective. This happens largely in the springtime, and often with Cardinals.
The offending bird (usually a male) sees his own reflection and, not being a
rocket scientist, is attacking it (seeing "another bird") in a territorial dispute.
I know it drives you crazy, but the bird isn't hurting itself. (No bird has ever been hurt from doing this, except for damaging his pride) Try eliminating the reflection by rubbing dry
soap on the outside of the window. It might stop the pecking, and it washes
right off.
OWEN YOST, in
addition to being a blogger, is a licensed Landscape Architect emeritus who has
lived and worked in north Texas for over 30 years. He is the recipient of a
Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Plant Society of Texas, and is a
member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), International
Federation of Landscape Architects, National Wildlife Federation and the
Audubon Society. His office is at Yost87@charter.net in Denton.
