by Dan & Diane True Hummer Summer
Many people worry about leaving their hummingbird feeders up once the first cold snap of Fall has arrived, concerned that they will leave hummingbirds stranded in "cold country." Since hummingbirds must eat mosquitoes, gnats, small mayflies or little spiders for sufficient protein to support body growth and maintenance, don't worry: your sugar-water feeder won't "hook" them into not migrating.
Insects are to a hummingbird what steak, chicken, and fish are to humans. Insects are so critical to the bird's health that when cool weather reduces the insect population, the birds leave your feeder and hum south. Sugar-water is high octane fuel for the birds. Before they leave to chase insects south, your feeder must be in place so they can tank up.
When birds discover that a feeder has been taken down before they are ready to migrate would be the same as you finding your gas station closed when you went to fill up before leaving on a long trip. Since they must refuel somewhere, if your feeder is down, the little birds will either fill up on flower nectar, if available, or find someone who was kind enough to leave a feeder up for them.
One scientist measured the daily insect need for a hummingbird by caging one critter and introducing a know number of insects. At the end of the day he counted leftover insects flying in the cage and determined that one hummer needs between 10 and 15 insects daily.
The little birds harvest insects on the fly (except for spiders...they get them from under your eaves). When you notice a hummer leave its perch, fly out a few feet or yards, pause a moment in mid air, and return, the bird probably zapped an insect. There are other reasons to leave your feeder up, at least until the first freeze. (A four to one water/sugar ratio freezes at 24 degrees F).
Once in a while during migration there are straggling hummers, straggling because they may not be in top shape to keep up with others. For these birds to find a feeder where they can refuel can be a lifesaver.
Another reason is that hummers have unerring memories for feeder locations from one year to the next. Your chance of attracting the same birds next year, along with their children, is excellent. Next season you get them again, with their children again, plus their grandchildren. Two or three years of that and you'll have lots of hummers!
Migration here in eastern New Mexico and West Texas is winding down. However, there are a few Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, and even some Broad-tails that are still moving south. To attract these birds, change your sugar-water solution every 4 days, even if you see no birds. By the 5th day, the solution will ferment. Hummingbirds absolutely, totally, utterly avoid fermented suga-water. They seem to know that in order to fly like a hummingbird, they must be sober.
Note: Since the red dye some folks use to color sugar/water has been banned from human food, why feed it to innocent hummingbirds, when the red on your feeder is all that's necessary to attract them?
Dan True is the author of Hummingbirds of North America, published by the University of New Mexico Press. He is an aviator and former weatherman for the Albuquerque and Amarillo, Texas markets. Visit his web site to learn more. Photo courtesy Dan True.
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