'Mysterious jewels' can brighten your yard
Mary Lou Sorsky has little problem attracting hummingbirds to her home in northwest Fresno, Calif. On less than two acres of land, she has penstemon, a hummingbird plant favorite, a water fountain and a koi pond with a waterfall.
A hummingbird feeder with decorative red flowers hangs on the patio and trumpet honeysuckle climbs on patio posts.
"They're just in heaven in here," says Sorsky, a 63-year-old retired flight attendant.
If you add a few things to your backyard, it might increase the chances of a hummingbird making a pit stop in your yard to feed, drink and maybe even nest.
"They're the smallest birds, and they have amazing abilities to fly in all directions," Sorsky says. "They're fearless and fun to watch."
In the world of birds, hummingbirds are the second-largest family, says Jeff Davis, a 40-year-old ornithologist who lives in Prather, Calif.
It doesn't take much to become a hummingbird host. Hummingbirds are often seen flittering around as they hover by flowers looking for nectar. (Besides nectar, they also eat bugs, such as small flies and spiders.) So a simple hummingbird feeder with decorative pink or red flowers just might do. Hang it in a location where cats can't reach.
As for food, you can mix your own sugar-water solution with a 4-to-1 ratio of water and sugar, Sheehey says.
Boil the mixture, then let it cool before filling the bird feeder with about half a cup. If you buy solutions from retailers, don't get ones with any dye, she says.
Every two to three days, Sheehey will clean her bird feeder with vinegar and water and replace the sugar water. "Don't just refill it, but change and clean it," she says. "If not, mold can build up and kill birds."
If ants, bees and wasps find the feeder just as tasty as the birds, you can try ant traps, which are placed above the feeder, and bee guards, which go over each feeding station, Davis says.
Sheehey also suggests spraying handles with cooking oil, such as Pam, to keep ants away.
When bees or wasps are problems, she removes her feeder for several days before putting it back up.
Another option that also will beautify your yard is growing certain plants that hummingbirds like.
With their hovering ability and long beaks and tongues, they are quite adapted to feeding on flowers, Davis says.
"The hummingbird flower then is usually tubular and pendant, hanging from a flexible stem," he says. "They tend to be pink or red."
Some plants he suggests include fuchsia, foxglove and penstemon.
Hummingbirds are "really fond of bathing," he says. "People often put out birdbaths, but they don't use those. If you have misters or sprinklers, they'll fly through them."
So, with a few simple steps, it won't be long before you're admiring your first hummingbird.
"They're easy to attract," Sheehey says. "You put up a feeder with red on the outside and after a few days, they'll be there.
"They're also fun to watch. They're like these mysterious jewels. When they hit the light just right, you'll get these splashes of light that tease you."