You’ve got your Sweet Feeder (Yay!!!) – but now what? If hummingbirds already frequent your area, they may show up on their own within 24 hours of putting your feeder up. If they aren’t familiar with your area, though, or are already accustomed to visiting other feeders, we want to share a few tricks we’ve leaned on how to attract hummingbirds to your feeder.
Timing.
Your hummingbirds may not be coming to your feeder for various reasons, including seasonal migration. They may have already gone south for the winter, and just simply aren’t in your area any more! Fret not, though, they should be back come Spring! For more information on hummingbird migration, check out this very thorough and helpful article.
Location.
Hummingbirds can be picky little creatures. They like their feeders in partial sun/shade – too much hot, direct sunlight is a deterrent; too much cold, dark shade is a deterrent as well. Just be aware of your climate, and think of what would make you comfortable!
Make sure your environment is a inviting as possible to hummers. They are drawn to bright colors: add potted plants to your patio or window sill, or research which flowers your species of hummingbird enjoys in your particular region of the United States and plant them in your garden. For an even easier fix, you can temporarily hang a ribbon, or attach flowers to your feeder, to add a little more color and help draw your hummers in! We sell attachable SMALL flowers (for window feeders) here, and attachable LARGE flowers (for spiral feeders) here.
Competition.
The presence of other feeders can initially be an issue (hummers are creatures of habit – like us!) If your hummingbirds are used to your older feeder, they may not visit your new one initially. To remedy this, try temporarily removing the old feeder, in order to acquaint them with the new.
In this same category, hummingbirds don’t like to compete with other pests or obstacles for their food. Check out these blogs if you struggle with ants, bees, or mold. These tested recommendations for dealing with competition should make a big difference!
We hope this has been helpful information on how to attract hummingbirds to your feeder! If you have any further suggestions or questions, please leave a comment below!
