Check the nectar
The most common reason hummingbirds don’t come to a feeder is because the nectar has gone bad. Nectar should be changed out every 2-3 days in hot weather and every 4-5 days in cooler temperatures. Old nectar can ferment and grow mold, which is unhealthy for hummingbirds. When changing the nectar, make sure to thoroughly wash the feeder with hot water and no soap. Soap residue can be dangerous for hummingbirds. After washing, fill the feeder with fresh nectar made from mixing 1 part white sugar with 4 parts water. Do not use any red dye, brown sugar, honey, or artificial sweetener in the nectar – plain white sugar and water is best. Hummingbirds have a very sensitive sense of taste and will avoid feeders with old, moldy, or improperly made nectar.
Check the location
If you’ve ruled out bad nectar, the next thing to examine is the feeder location. Hummingbirds are strongly attracted to the color red, so make sure your feeder is red or has red accents on it. Locate the feeder in a sunny area protected from wind and rain. Near gardens, trees, and flowering plants is ideal so the birds have shelter and other food sources nearby. Hang the feeder so the opening is level with the hummingbird’s head when it’s perched – usually around 5 feet off the ground. If it’s too low they may not see it, and if it’s too high they won’t be able to access it. Avoid areas with high traffic, loud noises, or other animals that may scare the birds away. If it’s currently located in a shady, windy, noisy spot try relocating it to a calmer area and see if more hummingbirds come.
Try multiple feeders
One feeder may not be enough to attract hummingbirds, especially if you live in an area with a lot of competition from neighbors also putting out feeders. Try adding several hummingbird feeders spaced around your yard in different locations like porches, trees, posts etc. Make sure they are far enough apart that dominant males won’t be able to guard more than one feeder at a time. Having multiple feeding stations increases the chances that hummingbirds will find them and gives shy/subordinate birds access too. Setting out a range of feeder styles – some perching, some hanging, some glass bottle etc – also provides variety and may draw in more hummers than a single style would. If you already have multiple feeders up, check that each one is freshly filled and in good repair. Rotating which feeders are accessible gives neglected ones a chance to be found.
Provide dripping/misting water
In addition to nectar, hummingbirds need plain water to drink and bathe. Providing a mister or dripper near your feeder gives them a water source other than the nectar. This is particularly important in summer when hot weather can cause dehydration. A simple dripping setup can be made using a reservoir filled with water, attached to a feeder by a wick. The water slowly drips down, creating a drop for hummingbirds to fly through and drink. Commercial misters or bird bath drippers are also available. Keep the water fresh and free of dirt by changing it daily. The sound and movement of dripping or misting water can be an added visual cue to attract hummingbirds to your yard.
Supplement feeders with flowers
While feeders provide an excellent artificial nectar source, hummingbirds rely heavily on flowers for their natural nutrition. Ensure your yard has plenty of hummingbird-friendly flowers for them to feed on. Good choices include bee balm, cardinal flower, columbine, trumpet vine, impatiens, sage, petunias, fuchsia, lobelia, morning glory, and nasturtiums. Plant flowers of different colors to appeal to hummingbird tastes and bloom times throughout spring, summer, and fall. This provides constant natural food to supplement the feeders, giving the birds more incentive to visit your property and stay nourished. Gardens with a wide variety of flowering plants will attract more hummingbird traffic than a yard with just a feeder alone.
Don’t give up
Be patient, as it can sometimes take a few weeks for hummingbirds to discover a new feeder or flower garden. Adult males returning from migration are territorial and may temporarily chase newcomers away until nesting season ends. Immature birds may not be strong enough to compete with dominant adults at first. Keep a fresh nectar supply in clean feeders at optimal locations and have flowers blooming through the season. Numerous feeders and supplemental blooms signal a safe habitat for hummingbirds. They will eventually include your yard in their territory, visit more frequently, and communicate its reliability to other birds. Don’t take down your feeders if hummers don’t come right away – they likely will eventually.
Consider a habitat change
If you’ve carefully checked all the above factors and hummingbirds still don’t come after several months, there may be an underlying habitat problem. Assess if your yard has enough food, shelter, nesting sites, and other components hummers need to thrive. If surrounding properties have removed feeders or flowers, hummingbirds may have left for better areas. Using pesticides and herbicides can also decrease insect populations hummingbirds rely on, causing them to look elsewhere. Tree/shrub removal and home renovations can suddenly change shelter and nest sites. Providing supplemental habitat features like butterfly gardens, fruit trees, birdbaths, and brush piles makes your space more welcoming long-term. This shows hummingbirds your yard supports all their needs.
Tips for attracting hummingbirds to your yard habitat:
Food | – Nectar feeders – Flower gardens |
Water | – Drippers/misters – Bird baths |
Shelter | – Trees/shrubs – Brush piles |
Nest Sites | – Trees/shrubs – Nest boxes |
Use decoys and recordings
For reluctant hummingbirds, using decoys and audio can mimic an environment that’s already attracting them. Plastic model hummingbirds on a feeder give the appearance that others are successfully using it. Short 15-30 second recordings of hummingbird chirps and wing sounds tells prospects the area is inhabited. Moving a new feeder to where hummers have already been seen, then slowly transitioning it to your yard over a few weeks also works. Just be sure to limit audio playbacks to brief periods only, as constant noise pollution stresses wildlife. The decoy and audio tricks service to initially lure hummers to check out your spot – but they must find actual nutrition and habitat once drawn in or they won’t stay.
Try different feeder styles
Hummingbirds have unique personalities, preferences, and traits. What appeals to some may deter others. Making your feeders as attractive as possible to multiple birds means using a variety of styles:
Perching feeders
Allow hummingbirds to comfortably sit at feeding ports. Best for dominant males who chase others from suspended feeders.
Hanging feeders
Freely swinging feeders allow quick access from all directions for busy hummers on the move.
Platform feeders
Ground-level feeding on a platform works for young fledglings just learning to feed.
Dish feeders
Flat dish style feeders prevent bees from accessing nectar, preferred by some hummers.
Bottle feeders
Durable glass bottle feeders with drip-style feeding ports are easy to clean and fill.
Tube feeders
Long tubes allow multiple hummers to feed at once and are used in high-traffic areas.
Having an assortment of feeders provides options for every preference. Try different styles in various yard locations to determine what your local hummingbirds like best. Switching types each season also adds novelty to keep attracting them back.
Digitize your hummingbird haven
Modern technology offers new techniques for monitoring and attracting hummingbirds:
Livestream cameras
Set up live webcams on feeders to watch activity remotely via app when you aren’t home. Great for identifying new arrivals and activity patterns.
Smartphone apps
Apps like HumOn can identify bird sounds. Separate what’s a hummingbird from other species in your yard.
Social media
Share photos on local community boards of new hummers visiting your feeders. Gets neighbors engaged in welcoming hummingbirds.
Digital calendars
Use shared digital calendars to track hummingbird sightings by date in your neighborhood. Helps identify migration and nesting times.
Email newsletters
Send email updates to neighbors with your hummingbird reports. Encourages others to maintain environments that will attract more.
Don’t panic about insects
Small flying insects like fruit flies, gnats, and even bees may swarm around your feeders. While annoying, these are actually beneficial supplements providing protein to balance the nectar diet. Only if insects completely overrun the feeder causing hummingbirds to avoid it should you relocate nectar sources further away. A small number of insects is normal so there’s no need to panic or use pesticides which can harm hummers. Simply refilling nectar more often or moving feeders lightly cleans away bugs.
Conclusion
The lack of hummingbird visitors likely stems from issues with your nectar, feeders, or environment. Carefully inspect each part of your set up. Fresh nectar in clean feeders, optimal locations, diverse floral gardens, water sources, and habitat features create an ideal yard for attracting hummers. Be diligent yet patient. Implement small tweaks over time until you achieve the right balance to bring hummingbirds flocking to your own haven. Leverage technology to identify activity patterns and rally your community. With the right techniques, your yard can become the favorite hummingbird hotspot on the block!