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Types of Hummingbird Feeders and Other Important Considerations
Zoe Ann Hinds
The use of a hummingbird feeder is probably the easiest way to try and attract the bird to your yard. There are two basic types of hummingbird feeders, the bottle or tube type and the saucer-shapped hummingbird feeder. This article will discuss each type of feeder, the importance of cleaning the feeder frequently and more.
A hummingbird feeder is a specially made bottle or tube, usually constructed of glass or plastic, that dispenses nectar or sugar solution through small holes. The hummingbird feeder may be bottle or saucer style.
The bottle or tube type of hummingbird feeder is usually made of glass or plastic and it often contains red plastic flowers and bee-guards which are little plastic screens that keep insects away from the sugar solution on the feeding ports. Bottle feeders may leak if placed in the sun because the air trapped in the top of the bottle expands as it warms and pushes the nectar out.
Saucer-shaped hummingbird feeders are usually made of plastic. This type of hummingbird feeder has feeding ports in the top, making them bee-and wasp-proof. Saucer feeders are better than bottle feeders in direct sunlight.
You can make your own hummingbird feeder with a bottle, rubber cork, and the drinking tube from a pet hamster water bottle. The color red attracts hummingbirds, so paint the feeding port with red nail polish or tie red ribbons to the feeder.
Reguardless of the type of feeder you choose to use, it is important to make sure the feeder is easy to take apart and clean, because it should be washed frequently. You can even clean the hummingbird feeder by running it through the dishwasher. Since you will be needing to clean the feeder frequently, the fill hole should be large enough for you to reach in while cleaning.
The best way to feed hummingbirds is by using a nectar feeder. There are several things to keep in mind when using nectar feeders. The feeder should not be located in direct sun, as this causes the sugar solution to spoil rapidly.
The feeder must be placed high enough on a branch so that squirrels and other predators cannot feed from it.
A mixture of sugar and water is the best way to attract humming birds. This blend is as close as you can come to flower nectars. Honey, molasses or any other artificial sweeteners should NEVER be used to feed hummingbirds. Though they eat small insects for protein, hummingbirds also rely heavily on flower and prepared nectar for their energy needs.
It is important to hang your humming bird feeder shortly before spring. If a hummingbird is drawn to the feeder at this time, it will likely return throughout the season, well into fall.
It is important that the hummingbird feeder be clean or the hummingbirds will not feed from your feeder. The feeder should be colorful, preferably red and orange, and it can have red ribbons trailing off the feeder so it can be easily spotted by the humming bird.
Hummingbird feeders come in many different styles and shapes. Each type of hummingbird feeder has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to consider these things when choosing the feeder that best meets your specific needs. You will also want to select a feeder that is easy to clean since you will need to do this frequently.
Regardless of the type of hummingbird feeder you select, having one will help attract these birds to your yard and can provide you with many hours of bird watching enjoyment due to the increased number of hummingbirds that will likely be drawn to your yard.
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