Hummingbirds are beautiful and fascinating creatures. Their ability to hover and fly backwards sets them apart from other birds. While watching them feed or flutter about is enjoyable, having hummingbirds regularly visit your yard takes some planning and expense. Providing food, water, shelter and nesting spots that appeal to hummingbirds carries certain costs. Understanding what’s needed to attract hummingbirds and keep them healthy will allow you to better plan for these special visitors.
Cost of hummingbird feeders
To attract hummingbirds, offering nectar in hummingbird feeders is key. Feeders provide a consistent, accessible source of food hummingbirds need. There are many types of feeders available in a range of sizes, styles and prices. Basic plastic feeders can cost as little as $5, while more elaborate glass and ceramic feeders with fancy bases can cost $40 or more. Most feeders designed specifically for hummingbirds range between $10-$20. You’ll want at least one feeder per yard, but likely multiple feeders in larger yards or if you hope to attract many hummingbirds. For a small to medium yard, plan on investing $30-$60 in hummingbird feeder supplies. This provides a choice of feeder styles and allows cleaning and refilling one while the other is still available for use.
Other supplies needed for hummingbird feeders
In addition to the feeders themselves, you’ll need supplies to keep your nectar fresh. Nectar spoils easily in heat and sun, so cleaning and changing it frequently is important. Supplies like brushes and bottle brushes for scrubbing feeders, food-safe containers for mixing up new nectar batches, and clothespins to hang feeders while drying are useful. Budget $10-$20 for these types of accessories. You’ll also want plant hooks, shepherd’s hooks or other hanging devices to display your feeders. These can range from $5-$30 depending on material and design.
Cost of nectar for hummingbirds
The most important thing hummingbirds need is nectar. Artificial nectar is made by mixing white granulated sugar with water. Never use honey, artificial sweeteners or red food coloring. Feeders should be cleaned and refilled with fresh nectar at least every 2-3 days in warm weather, and every 4-5 days in cooler temperatures. To regularly have nectar available, expect to spend $10-$30 per month depending on how many feeders you have and how often you change the nectar. Buying sugar in 5-10 pound bags versus smaller boxes or packets can also reduce costs.
Other food sources
While nectar provides the main nutrition for hummingbirds, they also eat small insects for protein. Providing additional food sources helps attract and sustain hummingbirds. Some options include:
- Planting pollinator gardens with native flowering plants that attract insects
- Using traps, feeders or treatments to boost insect populations
- Putting out mesh bags of dried mealworms or crickets
- Installing moving water features, which draw in flying insects
These methods range from inexpensive for pollinator gardening to potentially $50-$100 for commercial insect traps and feeders. Mealworms and crickets can cost $20 for a 1-2 month supply. Small backyard water features typically start around $50. So budgeting an extra $30-$50 for supplemental food sources per month is realistic.
Cost for birdbaths and drippers
Hummingbirds get most of their water intake from nectar, but providing water sources is still important especially in dry climates. Options include misters, drippers and small birdbaths. Drippers that connect to hanging baskets or mount on porches start around $10. More elaborate mister systems cost $50-$100. Birdbaths specifically made for hummingbirds run $30-$60. You’ll also need to factor in keeping water clean and full. Allow $5-$10 per month for supplies like brushes, bird-safe disinfectants and clean stones or marbles to add interest to baths.
Heated birdbaths
In cold climates, heating elements for birdbaths help provide liquid water year round. They range from $20 for submersible heaters up to $150 or more for larger heated units. These do add electrical operating costs of $5-$20 per month depending on size and hours used. But they can be vital in freezing temperatures.
Shelter and nesting materials
Hummingbirds don’t spend much time perching, but they do sometimes rest overnight or during bad weather in protected spots. Providing shelters can help them save energy and stay safe. Options include:
- Trees, shrubs and trellises create natural coverage
- Purpose-built birdhouses or roosting pouches $15-$50
- Clay flower pots or small cages flipped and secured to porches or posts $5-$20
- Sections of bamboo or rain gutter for nesting materials $10-$30
If you already have suitable vegetation or can use found items, shelters needn’t cost much. For nicer birdhouses and purchased supplies, budget $25-$75. Replacing nesting materials each year adds marginal cost.
Labor costs for garden care
Establishing and caring for hummingbird gardens involves time and work. Plan on several hours’ initial effort to set up feeders, plant flowers, and make sure decors and shelters are hummingbird-friendly. Ongoing there’s weekly or biweekly time for cleaning and filling feeders, changing water, grooming plants, adding insect food, etc. For most DIYers this is a labor of love built into their garden upkeep. But if hiring out, labor could be $100/month or more.
Total costs for hummingbirds
With feeders, food, water, and shelters, here are some estimates for startup and recurring costs to attract and care for hummingbirds:
| Item | Startup cost | Recurring monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feeders with accessories | $50 | $5 |
| Sugar nectar | $10 | $15-$20 |
| Supplemental insect food | $50 | $20-$30 |
| Birdbath | $40 | $10 |
| Shelters | $40 | $5 |
| Garden flowers and plants | $30 | $10 |
| Total | $220 | $65-$80 |
These numbers provide general guidance, but costs ultimately depend on specific choices and how many hummingbirds you hope to support. With strategic planning, you can minimize expenses without skimping on care. For example:
- Make your own nectar rather than buying pre-made mixes
- Choose native plants that thrive in your climate
- Repurpose found items for shelters
- Make large batches of nectar and freeze in ice cube trays
No matter what you spend, the reward of having ruby-throated, iridescent green or other stunning hummingbird species flocking to your yard is priceless. The elegance, acrobatic feats and magical presence of hummingbirds create joys that money can’t buy.
Automating hummingbird care
Consistent hummingbird care requires daily effort that can be hard to maintain. Automating some elements can reduce the workload. Smart technology products for hummingbirds are emerging, focused on making their key needs – food, water and shelter – reliably available.
Smart feeders
Feeders with electronic sensors track nectar levels, sending notifications to refill before sugar water runs out. Some even pump additional nectar into the reservoir when low. Prices start around $100-$150 for smart feeders. The higher startup cost of these units can pay off in the long run if they prevent precious feeder downtime.
App-connected accessories
New devices link to smart phones to monitor action at feeders and baths. Motion sensors, cameras with image recognition, weighing scales and more give insights into hummingbirds visiting. Users receive alerts to replace nectar or clean water based on activity and use. Basic accessories cost $50-$100. Prices rise with more advanced features like AI analytics. Apps may have free versions or require a subscription.
Smart irrigation
Automating watering of pollinator gardens and plantings eases upkeep. Smart controllers, moisture sensors and WiFi-enabled sprinklers allow remote monitoring and scheduling. Basic systems start around $100-$200. Pro-installed solutions for whole property automation can cost $2,000-$5,000. Key is choosing technology sized for your yard and hummingbird needs.
Weighing automation costs vs benefits
Before investing in automation, factor in both expenses and potential rewards. Costs include:
- Higher upfront prices of smart products vs regular versions
- Possible ongoing fees for cellular data or subscriptions
- Learning curve for new tech
But benefits may make automation worth it:
- Reduces daily hummingbird care time
- Lets you monitor activity anytime from your phone
- Provides reliable food and water without lapses
- Alerts at first sign of problems
- Helps customize care with data insights
Budget-conscious DIYers can start small. Focus on automating the most time-intensive elements like nectar refilling or garden watering. Balance smart investments against convenience and peace of mind. With creativity, you can automate key aspects of hummingbird care without breaking the bank.
Conclusion
Welcoming hummingbirds brings joy, but carries costs for specialized feeders, nectar, accessories and gardening. With initial setup and ongoing supplies, expect to invest $200-$500 per year. Smart technology can automate elements of hummingbird care for added convenience at higher prices. Whether taking the DIY or automation route, providing for hummingbirds pays dividends. A little financial planning goes a long way when attracting these special birds.
