Helping Hummingbirds

You're sitting in your yard and suddenly out of nowhere - zip, zing, a green and red flash comes to check out your native plant garden. After some keen observation, you nail it down as an incredibly interesting bird species - the Ruby-throated hummingbird ( Archilochus colubris). Hummingbirds are really one of the most impressive and fascinating bird species out there. In Minnesota, this is our only resident hummingbird species. Several other species of hummingbird have been observed but are rare and are classified as "accidental visitors." The Ruby-throated is actually the only species known to reproduce in the central and eastern United States. Like many species of birds throughout the world, hummingbirds are adversely affected by climate change, habitat destruction, and predation. Want to see more of these amazing tiny little birds in your yard? Here are a few natural ways to make your property a haven for the Ruby-throated hummingbird.

Cardinal Flower  ( Lobelia cardinalis )

The first and most important step to attracting hummingbirds to your yard is to introduce a variety of Minnesota native plant species. There are several species of native plants that hummingbirds go wild over. These shifty flyers are especially attracted to red or tubular flowers, where they use their long tongues to slurp up the nectar inside. Wild bergamot ( Monarda fistulosa), horsemint ( Monarda punctata), columbine ( Aquilegia canadensis), blue lobelia ( Lobelia siphilitica), butterfly milkweed ( Asclepias tuberosa), and cardinal flower ( Lobelia cardinalis) are just a few examples of native plants you might want to consider to attract these bird pollinators.

Native plants are more valuable than feeders because they also provide a crucial source of protein for hummingbirds. As the hummingbirds cruise around the native plant patches, they eat a lot of small insects like gnats and flies as well as spiders and small caterpillars and worms found among native plants. Female hummingbirds feed these insects and spiders to their young while they are still in the nest. Did you know that hummingbirds also line their nests with spider silk? Although it may give you the creeps, a healthy population of spiders in our natural areas helps to form a solid ecological foundation - and our hummingbirds greatly benefit from that!

Some bird enthusiasts provide a hanging hummingbird feeder with artificial nectar - one part white sugar with four parts water (boiled for a few minutes to kill bacteria and let cool). This sugar-water in a feeder can be an important energy source for hummingbirds but it doesn't contain the nutrients that natural nectar from flowers can provide (so it's a good idea to have flowers on your property as well). It is also important to regularly clean the hummingbird feeder to prevent mold and harmful bacteria from establishing. Experts recommend cleaning the feeders every few days. Don't add red dye or other artificial colors to the sugar-water; instead get a feeder that has red colors and keep the nectar a clear color. Putting out cut fruit near the feeder can also attract some small insects that hummingbirds like to eat. If it sounds like feeders are too much of a hassle and time commitment, then it might be better to go natural and just plant more native plants!

Hummingbirds nest on small branches of trees, so be careful not to over-prune your shrubs or deciduous trees. They also need safe places to perch on in order to rest, so trees and shrubs are important fixtures in a property that wants to be a haven for birds.

Another way to be involved in helping hummingbirds is to join the Audubon Society's citizen scientist program: Hummingbirds at Home. Part of this program is about documenting your hummingbird sightings. This helps researchers collect data to form a more accurate picture of how many hummingbirds are out there and their ranges.

Hummingbirds usually arrive back in Minnesota around the first week of May and stay until October. During those months they need to feed almost constantly due to their fast metabolisms. Males can be very territorial so if you want to see more than one, experts recommend having different feeders and patches of native plants in both your front and back yard. These are amazing little birds that are a joy to see each season! Follow these tips and let us know if it worked on your property. Please send us pictures or post on our Facebook page. Need native plants for attracting hummingbirds? Visit our retail nursery for perennial native plants that will attract hummingbirds year after year!