Every year I eagerly anticipate the arrival of that first Ruby-throated hummingbird to my feeder. Their annual return has always been on or around Mother's Day in Southeastern WI. This year they did not disappoint, as my first visitor arrived this morning. If you don't have your feeder up, I would suggest doing so as soon as possible. If you want to increase your chances of bringing them to your yard, plant up some of their favorite flowering annuals, including fuchsia, petunia and salvia. Perennials such as columbine, bleeding heart, bee balm and penstemon will also get their attention.
If you are not immediately successful, make sure that you are refreshing your feeder every 3-5 days. Just as we find a flat soft drink distasteful, hummingbirds will be turned off by a feeder with "spoiled" nectar. You will also have better results if you select a feeder with feeding ports on the top, as opposed to a drip tube. The tube feeders are prone to leaking, and this will eventually lead to ants and other insects.
The male hummingbird can be very territorial and will fiercely defend food sources. If you are lucky enough to get one or more males to your yard, you may want to place several feeders at different locations to avoid any battles!
These tiny jewels have an unbelievable 40-80 wing beats per second and are breathtaking to behold. With proper feeder selection and placement, combined with continued maintenance, you should be able to enjoy these wonders of nature throughout the summer.
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