Solutions for spring visitors

Everyone realizes that summer is really on the way when the hummingbird feeders get set back up for the year. Today is the expected return date, although the early arrival date for Lynchburg was March 27.

Since this has been a rather late spring, I didn’t get my feeder out until April 10, and I am still waiting for my first visitor. I have not yet had any reports of birds in our area for this year.

By August, we are filling five or six feeders every day, but I always start with just one. After the hummingbird numbers begin to increase, I hang additional feeders. Since it is important to offer a fresh sugar solution, I only put a small amount in the feeder early in the season. When the migrants first begin to move into the area, you can’t expect a lot of customers at your feeder.

During the cool temperatures of spring, change the solution about every four or five days. Of course, after it gets hot it will be necessary to make more frequent changes. Before you hang your feeder, make certain that it is very clean. Mold tends to grow in the small crevices of the nectar ports, and a dirty feeder is harmful to the birds.

Special brushes are available for cleaning hummingbird feeders, or you can use a small bottle brush. Although some books recommend soapy water, I prefer simply to scrub thoroughly with very hot water. This eliminates the difficulty in rinsing all of the soap off of the tiny feeder parts.

Commercial nectar mixes can be found in many retail stores, or you can make your own. If you do purchase a mix, try to find one without so much red dye. Most feeders incorporate red plastic in the design, and this will provide enough color to attract the birds.

I have made my own hummingbird feeder solution for many years. Simply mix one part sugar to four parts water. The sugar will dissolve more easily if you use boiling or very hot water. For convenience, I mix quart batches and store it in the fridge until I am ready to put it out in the feeder. Never use honey to make a nectar solution because it promotes the growth of a type of mold that is fatal to hummingbirds.

If this is the first time you have tried attracting hummingbirds, you may have more success if you hang out some baskets of flowers near the feeder. Although red flowers are popular, a few years ago I found a lavender lantana that acts almost as a hummingbird magnet. Just use whatever works best in your situation.

Also, I should mention that when the hummingbirds first appear, they may be with you for a while and then leave. Some of the birds will simply be moving through our area and continue on to the north to breed. In mid-July, the numbers will start to increase as the young fledge and congregate at the feeders.

Dalmas, a naturalist, writes a weekly column for The News & Advance. Readers may e-mail her.