Summer has officially arrived and high temperatures are scorching our gardens. But it isn't just our plants that need some extra care during such extreme weather, hummingbirds also need some support to stay cool and hydrated.
If you want to attract hummingbirds to your yard during the summer, it's important to set up some precautions to keep them cool. This includes a shady retreat out of the sun, a fresh water source, and clean feeders full of nectar.
It's actually super easy to incorporate all of these things in your yard (picking up a red glass hummingbird feeder from Walmart is a good place to start). Here are three simple ways you can help these charming little birds during the hottest months of the year.
1. Provide a Cooling Mist
A big part of feeding birds in your garden is providing a water source, most commonly with a bird bath. But, hummingbirds actually prefer mist to a pool of water.
During the heat especially, morning dew and water vaopr from natural water sources is crucial to keeping them cool and clean. In your garden, you can offer mist by placing a solar fountain in your bird bath (this one from Amazon is highly rated).
This hanging solar fountain bird bath from Amazon is also a good option, as you can hang it in the shade to keep the water cool.
This will provide movement in your bird bath and a soft spray for the hummingbirds to fly through.
It's important to clean your bird bath regularly to ensure the water is topped up and hygienic for all the garden birds using it.
2. Refresh Feeders Regularly
Hummingbirds primarily get their hydration from the nectar they consume. That's why a hummingbird feeder (like this red one from Amazon) is an essential to have when trying to support these birds in your yard.
It's important to keep your hummingbird feeder topped up with nectar (you can purchase hummingbird nectar from Walmart) and to clean your hummingbird feeder more often in hot weather. The nectar will spoil more quickly, so refresh it everyday or at least every other day.
It can also be wise to place your hummingbird feeder in a shaded spot to stop it spoiling so quickly and to stop the nectar overheating.
This glass hummingbird feeder wind chime from Amazon is a perfect option for hanging from a tree branch in shade. It has multiple feeders which create a calming sound as the breeze hits. It's also currently just $28.79 in the Amazon Prime Day sale, so now is the time scoop it up.
This hummingbird feeder cleaning brush from Amazon is useful to pick up, too, so you can make sure the feeding ports are safe for birds to use.
3. Create a Shady Resting Spot
Another way to help hummingbirds beat the heat is by providing resting spots in shade.
Hummingbirds often look for perches in shaded areas to escape the sun, conserve energy, hide from predators, and preen their feathers.
You can add these hummingbird swings from Walmart to a low tree branch under shade. Likewise, take care not to prune tree branches back so much that all shade is eradicated.
By planting nectar-rich hummingbird plants for shade under these canopies, you can create the ultimate cool spot for them to rest and feed in.
Denser shrubs are also used by these birds, including these viburnums from Plant Addicts. It can be effective to position feeders near these shrubs.
Garden shade from structures can also help, so consider placing hummingbird resources under pergolas or in the shade cast by buildings.
What to Shop
This hummingbird feeder doubles as a wind chime, with multiple glass feeders that bum together in the breeze to create a soothing sound. As the light hits them, they also reflect beautiful colors.
This pack of wildflower seeds is a special mix of 23 plants hummingbirds and butterflies love. It has both annuals and perennials, and can be sprinkled around the yard to grow.
This pack of three hummingbird perches can be put in trees to provide hummingbirds with a resting spot. You get three different designs in this pack, all constructed of durable metal.
This hummingbird nectar is ready to fill feeders, no diluting with water needed. It doesn't have any artificial dye and comes in a 64 FL Oz bottle. It should be kept refrigerated after opening to keep it in top condition.
This glass hummingbird feeder is red to attract their attention. It has four feeding ports and perches for accessibility, and is easy to refill and clean. It comes with a hook to hang it up.
This solar fountain can be placed in a bird bath to create a mist for hummingbirds to use. It has six nozzles with a customizable spray, so you can find the right one for your desired outcome.
Whether you already have a hummingbird feeder or you're planning to add one to your yard this summer, it's important to read up on hummingbird feeder mistakes to avoid. This includes leaving feeders out during cold nights where the nectar can freeze.
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