A hummingbird bird feeder may be an ideal add-on to your backyard if you love birdwatching or are interested in starting. Hummingbirds are beautiful birds, and they are very fascinating to watch. In this article I will walk you through the basics, such as what hummingbirds eat, how to attract them to your yard, how to set up feeders, and finally, how much to feed them.

What a hummingbird eats:

Hummingbirds eat two things; nectar for energy, and insects for protein and vitamins. Since it would be quite strange to have a hummingbird bird feeder full of bugs, you obviously want to buy a nectar feeder. Artificial nectar is pretty easy to make too. All you need to do is mix one part sugar with four parts water, boil it to remove bacteria, and then let it cool.

Attracting and feeding hummingbirds:

Now that you know what hummingbirds like to eat, you need to know where and how to set up a hummingbird bird feeder. If you have a garden, that is the best place to put the feeder. This is because hummingbirds love bright, colorful flowers. You should also buy a hose mister to place in the garden. Hose misters are not expensive, they are typically around $15, but they are almost guaranteed to bring hummingbirds to your garden. The simple fact of the matter is that birds love and need water, and good water is hard for birds to find. So if you have water in your garden, it stands to reason that the birds will come. Another decision you must make is how many feeders to buy. I recommend buying two or more instead of one because hummingbirds tend to be territorial of their food sources. They will fight off other hummers trying to access the same nectar, and that’s not what you want. The best method is to buy two feeders and place them away from each other, preferably out of sight.

How much nectar to put out:

It really depends on how many birds you want to see. A hummingbird bird feeder can have a capacity anywhere from 8 to 72 ounces. The higher capacity feeders will accommodate more birds because they are bigger and often have six feeding ports instead of four and a perch built all the way around. Again though, keep in mind that hummingbirds are territorial, so it is better to buy multiple feeders than just one high capacity feeder. My recommendation is to buy two 20 ounce feeders, with four perches, and place them away from each other. This should give you the best results. It also makes cleaning easier than if you go with a larger capacity because the nectar doesn't sit in the feeder for a long time, however you will have to clean them more often.

When to start:

Don’t wait, start right now! The best time to start really is in the summer months, before it gets too late into the year. Birdwatching is one of the most relaxing and entertaining hobbies of all time. And hummingbirds are some of the most entertaining birds to watch. A hummingbird bird feeder will only run you about $20, so why not buy one and start a new hobby!