September 2008

Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills, NJ

Observe and enjoy the ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, from our Visitor Center windows. In spring, two hummingbird feeders were hung outside of two windows and, since then, hummingbirds have appeared as if by magic, hovering with almost-invisible wings right before our eyes.

Hummingbirds consume more than half of their own body weight in food each day. Their primary foods are small insects and the nectar of flowers, for which their long, slender bills are especially adapted.

The sugar water used in hummingbird feeders is only a supplement to the bird’s natural diet. The sugar water gives them the fuel they need for chasing bugs. The recipe we use at the garden is: one part ordinary sugar cane to four parts water. This mixture approximates the average sucrose content of the flowers favored by North American hummingbirds.

Water and sugar (usually sucrose) are the only components common to all natural nectars. Do not put honey, artificial sweeteners, or red food coloring in your feeder. Honey ferments rapidly when diluted with water and can kill hummingbirds. Artificial sweeteners do not have the calories hummingbirds need to sustain their metabolism. Adding red dye to color the water is not necessary to attract hummingbirds. Rather, use a feeder with some red on it. Also, there have been unverified reports that red dye can cause tumors in hummingbirds.

When making your artificial nectar it is not necessary to boil the water and prepared nectar can be refrigerator 1 to 2 weeks before being used. When placed outdoors, nectar will only remain fresh for 2 to 4 days in hot weather, or 4 to 6 days in moderate weather before turning cloudy or developing mold. If the feeder is in a shady spot the nectar will last longer without spoiling.

Clean and refill your feeder at least once a week. Flush the feeder with hot tap water and inspect it for black mold. If you need more than water to clean your feeder, use vinegar. Soaps and detergents leave behind harmful residues. Maintaining cleanliness of the feeder is essential for the health of the birds.

Hummingbirds will not delay migration if a feeder is present. Hummingbirds migrate in response to hormonal changes triggered by decreasing length of daylight; so it's not necessary to stop feeding them in order to force them to go south.

On the contrary, most ruby-throats migrate up to 2,000 miles to and from southern Mexico and Central America. They will need to fatten up to nearly double their normal body weight to survive the journey. Another reason to keep your feeder up longer: sometimes an individual bird can’t migrate on schedule, due to illness or injury. These hummers, in particular, will appreciate having a reliable food source at a time when few natural flowers are still in bloom. We will keep our feeders up for at least two weeks after seeing the last hummer of the season.

Hummingbird feeders offer an ideal way to attract these jewels of the air, and a good way to supplement the flower nectar your garden supplies but, having a hummingbird feeder is a responsibility. If you know you don’t have the time to follow this maintenance routine you should consider putting in a hummingbird garden or visiting the Leonard J. Buck Garden to see these spectacular flying creatures.

The Buck Garden Foreman initiated and maintains this project which has proven to be a delightful attraction.

- Tricia Scibilia, interpretive gardener
**All photos by Tricia Scibilia