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The Hummingbird Feeder
A hummingbird feeder is really a nectar or sugar feeder. This feeder is about all it takes to attract hummingbirds. East of the Rockies, expect one type of hummer, the ruby throated. West of the Rocky Mountains, there are 14 species!! It’s also the only bird with a “reverse” gear.
Click here for detailed information about the
ruby-throated hummingbird.
Hummingbird Feeder typesHummingbirds associate food with the color red. They’ll investigate just about anything with red, including your shirt, red-handled gardening tool, or hanky! Therefore, to be optimally effective, a feeder should be red. That’s not to say that you won’t attract hummers to other feeders with different colors. You may. But all said and done, hummers love red!You will not have to look long to learn that there are lots and lots of feeders for hummingbirds. You may even begin to feel overwhelmed by the number of choices. Some hang, some stick to windows, some poke up from the ground. Some are oval, some are round, some are square. Some have warranties, many don’t. Some are ascetically pleasing, many are not. It really boils down to this: there are two categories of feeder: 1) The plastic disc-shaped hummingbird feeder and 2) Everything else Why such a simple classification system? Good question. Fact-of-the-matter is, I have found no feeder more effective than the traditional plastic hummingbird feeder shaped like a disc. These feeders are almost always red, usually have a perch and are very easy to clean. Take note of the last piece of the previous sentence... easy to clean. Because hummingbirds will not eat from a dirty feeder, you must clean it often, especially in the warm summer months. Feeders that disassemble easily and have open bodies are quite efficient. The top half of the disc-shaped plastic hummingbird feeder separates from the bottom half with ease. Cleaning is a snap. There are many beautiful feeders available, and many are quite effective at attracting hummers. But the moment you have to clean it, you’re going to appreciate the simplicity of the disc model. What’s more, leading bird feeder manufacturers such as droll yankee and aspects provide life time warranties. This means a one-time purchase folks—you’ll never have to buy it again. These feeders may seem a little pricey (up to 35 bucks), but hey, if your fancy glass feeder busts, you’re going to have to purchase it again. There are some cheaper disc models available without warranties, but experience has taught me that the red color fades to pink after a month or two. No big deal to get yourself a can of red spray paint and paint it again. My preference is always to opt for the more durable model, but each to his own--select as you wish! What About The Window Hummingbird Feeder?
It’s true that hummers will feed from feeders attached to a window. Aspects and droll yankee both offer disc-like window models that are both effective and functional. Again, a life-time warranty is included.
The Test Tube FeederI love the Holland Hill vial (test tube) feeders. Hand crafted in the United States, these feeders hold just enough nectar to prevent it from spoiling in warm weather. Basically, the feeders consist of a vial with red caps and a top and bottom hook. Hang a plant from the bottom hook, especially one with red!In addition Holland Hill manufactures a window version of this feeder that is also very successful. I gladly recommend these feeders as they are effective and very easy to clean.
Keep one factor in mind. The vials are a bit small, so you if you are in an area with a ton of Hummers, you may find yourself fillingthe feeder frequently. However, I always encourage customers to make a couple of large pitchers of nectar premade in the refrigerator. This way, you make it once and are set for a few weeks!
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