Hummingbird care

Providing a hummingbird friendly environment in your garden is a wonderful way to help support the local hummingbird population. Providing pollinator friendly plants and flowers will encourage hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other insects and animals to visit your garden and you will be able to experience the joy of seeing new species turning up throughout the year.
​
Hummingbird nectar feeders provide a focal point for feeding and allow you to enjoy your hummingbirds at close quarters. However! It is an ongoing commitment to provide wholesome nectar every day and keep the feeders immaculately clean so that the health of your hummingbirds is not damaged.

A black throated mango dives in for a feed

A purple firespike (Odontonema cuspidatum) planted near the feeders provides a great food source for this young copper rumped hummingbird

Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

​4 cups of boiling water
1 cup pure cane white granulated sugar
Stir sugar into water until dissolved. Allow to cool before dispensing
Store excess in the fridge for up to 1 week
 
Only use pure cane sugar, NEVER brown sugar or honey NEVER add red dye – all these will damage the liver of your hummingbirds.
Clean feeders every day if possible, but no more than 2 days between cleans.
Thoroughly scrub feeders including feeder ports to clean. Soak in very dilute bleach weekly to kill mold spores. Vinegar or hydrogen peroxide can also be used. Rinse very thoroughly after disinfecting.

Ruby topaz, black throated mango and copper rumped hummingbirds at the feeder

Feeders​

• Wash thoroughly with hot water before use.
• Only use nectar made by the recipe give here. NEVER use red dye!
• NEVER put out hummingbird nectar in an open container. If nectar splashes on the hummingbirds’ feathers they are unable to clean it off, and may eventually die because of it.
• When first putting out feeders, fill halfway to start.
• Hang in the sun or shade in a spot where you can see them while relaxing in your garden or porch.
• Ideally hang feeders near pollinator friendly plants and hummingbird friendly perches.
• Feeders in full sun will need to be cleaned and refreshed more frequently that those in shade (the nectar spoils faster in hotter conditions).
• Clean feeders ideally every day but maximum every other day to avoid the nectar spoiling.
• Establish a routine time for putting out fresh nectar so that the birds know when they can expect to find it.
• Wash with hot water and scrub with a clean sponge and toothbrush or other small brush e.g. clean mascara brush to make sure everything is clean, especially in and around the feeding ports.
• NEVER ​ allow black mould to grow anywhere on the feeders. Disinfect the feeders weekly by soaking in a weak solution of bleach or use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to ensure all bacteria and fungus is killed. Scrub and rinse very thoroughly after disinfecting.
• NEVER use grease or any other substance around the feeders to stop ants – use a water-filled ant moat.
• If your feeder has an ant moat be sure to keep that clean too – hummingbirds may drink from that reservoir.

Placing feeders near perches allows your hummingbirds to rest between feeds and gives you a great view of them! Here a long billed starthroat takes a break.

A black throated mango poses nicely between feeds

Hand Feeders

• Wash thoroughly before and after use.
• Fill halfway, place on your table or close to the feeders so that the hummingbirds can become accustomed to it.
• Before you put out the feeders in the morning, try standing near the feeding area with the hand feeder on the flat of your hand, reaching out slowly towards any hummingbirds perching nearby.
• You can also try other times during the day while the birds are actively feeding.
• Be patient and think positive thoughts!!