Embedded Files
This site is under construction 🚧🙂🚧 Message the mods at our Reddit community if you'd like to help. We'd be excited to have it!
Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Something we all have in common is that we need water. Our animal friends are no different. Urban development, habitat loss, and climate change has made water harder to come by in many places so this page covers a few options for helping out hummingbirds.
This Solution is for the America's Only
This Solution is for the America's Only
Since hummingbirds only live in and migrate across the Americas (from Alaska and Canada down to the southern tip of Argentina), and the Caribbean nations in between, there is no reason to set up humming bird feeders unless you are trying to feed insects like wasps or bees.
Life Expectancy
Life Expectancy
If you bring these inside during the seasons when they are not needed, they should last longer.
Benefits of Hummingbird Feeders
Benefits of Hummingbird Feeders
These provide hydration and calories to hummingbirds and some insect species even when local wildflowers have been lost to habitat destruction, or problematic weather. Hanging these near a window or other place can be a great way to help children and others get a close up view of these amazing creatures which can increase their concern about the environment on which the birds rely.
Dangers of Hummingbird Feeders
Dangers of Hummingbird Feeders
The "nectar" in these goes bad very quickly making birds sick or even killing them if not cleaned out and refilled often enough. The can also attract predators, or cause fights among humming birds who can be very territorial if there are too many birds and not enough feeders. These only provide liquid and calories, but not the nutrients that wildflowers offer.
Solutions
Solutions
You can make a batch of nectar and keep some of it in the fridge to keep it good longer an reduce effort to refill the feeders. Make sure to use the correct quantities of water and other ingredients. Give the feeder a proper scrub including the hard-to-reach areas. The flowers for example may pop off to allow for deeper cleaning. Keeping the feeder out of the sun may also help reduce mold growth. Hang the feeder away from where predators can reach (keep you cats indoors!), and hand up extra feeders if you see birds chasing others away from the feeder. Better yet, plant some nectar-providing plants so that the birds have better access to proper nutrition, and aren't forced to come to one artificial point to survive, but can instead explore entire bushes and/or vines of flowers.
Materials
Materials
Often plastic, but some come as glass and metal.
"Fuel" Types
"Fuel" Types
Water cycle + sugar or store-bought mix.
Hummingbirds Also Like
Hummingbirds Also Like
Food Sources
Food Sources
Hummingbirds consume nectar, tree sap, and insects. They are especially good at hunting mosquitos with their spear-like bills, so providing a pesticide-free garden and water source can help provide them with both nectar for energy and insects for protein.
Wildflowers
Wildflowers
These little birds enjoy nectar from species including lantana, firecrackers, fire bush.
Vines
Vines
Species including honeysuckle are favored for their red and orange colours.
Trees
Trees
As sapsuckers fly north, leaving weeping holes of sap on trees along their migration route, hummingbirds fly in behind them, to feed on the sweet fluid before spring flowers bloom. - A Partnership That Works: Sapsuckers and Hummingbirds
Fountains/Water Features
Fountains/Water Features
These can be really pretty but need to be maintained, cleaned, and refilled, especially during hot/dry spells. In fact these experience the most evaporation of all the options listed on this page because water tends to splash over the edge and water evaporates more easily while it is suspended in air as the droplets have increased surface area vs water that is in a container.
Organizations
Organizations
North America
North America
USA
USA
Water for Wildlife "is a conservation organization designed to benefit our nation’s wildlife. Our initial emphasis focused on plains game preservation and management through the development of supplemental water resources in selected areas where both the habitat and wildlife are being impaired by lack of water, a vital natural resource. We have now invested in over 500 water projects in twelve western states. These crucial water sources sustain both wild game and non-game animals including songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, fish, and many more. Our charitable goals are to create awareness of increased pressure on water resources necessary for the continued sustenance of wildlife and to increase the availability of water for all wildlife in remote and arid regions of our country. The Benefits Wildlife rely on their habitat for water, feed, and cover. As these resources become increasingly scarce, our projects support the continued viability of wildlife under these conditions. We work with state and federal wildlife and land management officials and other conservation organizations to identify the need for projects, located primarily on public land."
Grants & Funding
Grants & Funding
North America
North America
USA
USA
Water for Wildlife: Grant Application "The Water for Wildlife® Foundation is committed to playing a pivotal role in the conservation of wildlife through the development of supplemental water/habitat resources. WFWF helps bridge the gaps between agencies and other partners to implement projects. We provide grants each year for the construction of water/habitat developments for wildlife. Water for Wildlife® project applications should show at least a 1:1 cost share match for consideration. Water projects are ranked and prioritized for funding based on benefits to area wildlife, distances to perennial water sources, cost share funding and partners identified, cost effectiveness, public benefit, and completeness of application submitted. Funding levels vary from project to project, but typically range from $1,000 – $10,000. The Foundation is encouraging your agency or conservation organization to partner with us to support our efforts of making water/habitat as accessible to wildlife as possible."
Related Topics
Related Topics
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse