The arrival of the black chinned, calliope and rufous hummingbirds will hopefully herald another successful breeding season and hours of entertainment watching their interactions and feeding rituals.
Did you know the rufous hummingbird is the most northerly breeding hummingbird, recorded in southeast Alaska.
The calliope comes in second in the Bulkley Valley. Their oval migration takes them from their wintering grounds in Mexico up the west coast to their breeding grounds then down the east side of the Rockies to the west and east coasts of Mexico again.
If you are unable to maintain a clean feeder and change food as often as required from April to August then please rely on plants in your garden and hanging baskets.
Buy neonic free plants. Neonicotinoid pesticides are systemic and appear in both the pollen and nectar of the plants. This affects all the pollinators (insects and birds), so the important insect protein that is required for raising the young and boosting adult fat for migration is compromised.
Hummingbird feeding hints
1) Clean feeders
Clean with hot water (no soap).
Feeder should be completely dismantled and feeding ports taken apart.
Use a bottle brush for inverted feeders and pipe cleaners for the small holes.
Prior to refilling your feeder take it apart and rinse with hot water.
Twice a week use the brush and pipe cleaners to ensure it’s clean.
Black mould is a death sentence to hummingbirds. If there is any sign of it soak your feeder for one hour in a mixture of 1/4 cup bleach to one gallon of water. Rinse the parts several times in hot water to remove all traces of the bleach.
2) Feeders
Glass feeders are the best. If you buy plastic make sure that it is Food Grade Plastic or UV Stabilized. This ensures there is no chemical leakage into the food they eat. Cheap plastic disintegrates and will contaminate the food.
Whether you use inverted feeders or the basin style make sure that the feeder can be completely dismantled for cleaning.
3) Food
The best food for hummingbird feeders is made by you!
Think of your hand, the thumb is sugar and your fingers are water.
One part white sugar to four parts water. Boil water in a pot then add sugar, or you may add boiling water from a kettle to sugar stir till it completely dissolves. Cool to room temperature before filling feeder. You can store this in the fridge for seven days but warm to room temperature before filling feeder.
Never use brown sugar, honey or sugar substitutes as these contain components that will harm the birds.
Do not use red dye (the red on the feeder is all that is needed to attract them). Do not add scent.
4) Changing food
When temperature is 27 degrees Celsius or above change everyday.
When temperature is 26 degrees or below change everty three days.
Reasons: 1) Heat increases the growth of mould. 2) Every time a hummingbird bill is inserted into the feeder microbes are introduced that feed on the sugar. After three days the food is compromised.
If possible avoid hanging in direct sun all day.
A list of hummingbird compatible plants can be found at OkanaganXeriscape.org, go to Search then Features and check 'Attracts Hummingbirds.'
A few garden plants that are popular are bee balm, columbine, foxglove, honeysuckle, Russian sage and snap dragons. Hanging basket plants include salvia, fuchsia, verbena, nasturtium and petunia.
A sure winner is vermillionaire, it has so many blossoms you have an excellent opportunity to watch the hummers feed. It is great in planters and hanging baskets.
Make sure these plants are out of reach of predators as the hummers are distracted while feeding and make easy prey for a cat.
For more information on hummingbirds in B.C. go to rpbo.org Rocky Point Bird Observatory Victoria.
Karen Siemens on behalf of North Okanagan Naturalist Club
