Once again it is time to start preparing for the arrival of hummingbirds to the Northwest. Bob Morse, local Puget Sound bird expert, says that he puts his hummingbird feeders out in mid-February. That way he provides some support for the early migrants on their journey to Alaska.
Locating Feeders Place feeders out in the open and near hummer friendly plants. It will also help if the feeders are in an area protected from the sun and wind. You can move your feeders around a bit once the hummingbirds have found them.
How Many? It can be a good idea to put out several feeders. Hummers can be territorial and may drive off other birds. Putting out multiple feeders should attract more hummingbirds.
Nectar Keep it simple and fresh. A 4 to 1 mixture of water and sugar is best. Boil the solution for a couple minutes and then let it cool thoroughly. Do not use coloring, brown sugar, artificial sweeteners or honey. The nectar and spoil pretty quickly so be sure dump any unused nectar every 3 to 4 days (more often in hot weather). A feeder that is dishwasher safe can make it a lot easier to keep you feeder clean.
