If you’ve noticed fewer hummingbirds visiting your feeders and flowers this year, you’re not alone. Several factors may be contributing to a decline in hummingbird numbers for many homeowners.
Did the hummingbirds arrive late this spring?
Hummingbirds typically start returning to their breeding grounds in late winter and early spring. However, unseasonably cold temperatures and late snowstorms can delay their migration by a week or more. If the hummingbirds arrived later than usual in your area this year, it may simply be a matter of them still working their way to your yard.
To attract early arrivers, make sure your feeders are up and filled by early to mid-March. Use a 1:4 ratio of sugar to water, and change it every 2-3 days (or daily in hot weather) to avoid spoilage. Place feeders in open, visible areas for easy access. If hummers don’t find your feeder at first, they may look elsewhere for food sources in your neighborhood.
When did you last see hummers this year?
Take note of the first and last dates you see hummingbirds each season. Keeping records will help you identify any significant changes from year to year. If you didn’t see your first hummingbird until much later than normal, the late arrival likely affected total numbers.
Did you take down feeders too early?
Hummingbirds start migrating south again in late summer and early fall. But in many regions, stragglers may stick around into October or November if food remains available. Taking down feeders too early could prematurely eliminate a food source the late-staying hummers depend on.
Keep feeders up through at least mid-October, unless you stop seeing hummingbird activity for more than a week or two. This will ensure any late-migrating birds have enough fuel reserves to make their long journey south.
Are there fewer flowers and nectar sources near your yard?
Hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from flower nectar and the small insects they eat while feeding. A vibrant mix of nectar-rich flowers and shrubs around your yard will make it attractive to hummers throughout the season.
How many hummingbird-friendly plants do you have?
Assess the variety of tubular, nectar-producing flowers and shrubs planted near your feeders. Clusters of the same types of flowers are best to make efficient feeding stops. Try adding more of these hummingbird favorites:
| Annuals | Perennials | Shrubs & Vines |
|---|---|---|
| Bee balm | Butterfly bush | Trumpet creeper |
| Impatiens | Cardinal flower | Weigela |
| Nasturtium | Columbine | Honeysuckle |
| Petunia | Hosta | Lilac |
| Zinnia | Sage | Fuschia |
Did you lose any plants this year?
Take note of any deaths among the hummingbird-friendly plants around your yard. Replacing any lost flowers or shrubs with new plantings in early spring or fall will help attract more hummingbirds in coming years.
Regular pruning, fertilization, watering, and mulching will keep existing plants healthy and prevent losses. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flower production.
When do your plants bloom?
To provide nectar through the entire season, choose a variety of flowering plants that bloom at different times:
- Spring: lilac, columbine, bee balm
- Summer: petunia, fuschia, trumpet vine
- Fall: sage, cardinal flower, butterfly bush
Staggered bloom periods will give hummingbirds an ongoing food source in your yard.
Has pesticide use changed near your yard?
Hummingbirds eat small insects for protein as well as nectar. If neighbors or your community has increased pesticide use this year, it may have reduced the insect population hummingbirds rely on.
Avoid using pesticides in your own yard, and encourage others to eliminate or cut back on chemical treatments. Planting more native wildflowers and allowing vegetation along fence rows to grow will provide natural habitats for the bugs hummingbirds feed on.
Are there fewer ornamental flowers?
Invasive pests and diseases can affect popular ornamental flowers that hummers feed on, wiping out food sources. For example, impatiens plants are frequent victims of downy mildew disease. Petunias can be damaged by fungus and viruses.
Choosing disease-resistant flower varieties and diligently monitoring for pests can prevent losses. Incorporate native plants with natural defenses instead of relying heavily on potentially vulnerable ornamentals.
How was the weather this year?
Temperature extremes, unusual rainfall patterns, late frosts, or extended drought can impact the bloom times and nectar production of different plants. Ensuring your yard is prepared to handle weather fluctuations will help minimize losses.
Mulch beds, use drip irrigation, allow some vegetation to go natural, and provide windbreaks and shade with shrubs and trees. Select hardy, resilient plants suited for your climate.
Is there more competition at feeders and flowers?
Sometimes fewer hummers aren’t due to an actual decline in numbers, but increased competition from other birds for the same limited food sources.
Do you have problems with bees at feeders?
Bees are also attracted to the sugar water in hummingbird feeders. Large numbers can intimidate hummingbirds and prevent them from feeding.
Use feeders with bee guards to discourage bees without harming them. Choose red feeders as hummingbirds are more attracted to red flowers. Keep feeders clean and change nectar often to reduce bee interest.
Have more birds visited your yard this year?
| Bird | Competition Concern |
|---|---|
| Orioles | May dominate feeders |
| Woodpeckers | Damage feeders |
| Finches | Rapidly consume nectar |
Providing separate feeders and abundent food sources for other visiting birds reduces competition with hummingbirds.
Use orange slices or jelly for orioles. Suet feeders attract woodpeckers. Offer thistle seed for finches. Consider more feeder locations spread throughout your yard.
Have nest predators increased?
Chips, cats, snakes, and other predators may prey on hummingbird eggs and chicks in nests. Discouraging these predators from your yard will help more young hummers survive to return next year.
Avoid using pesticides that reduce insect prey for insect-eating predators like lizards and frogs. Keep pet cats indoors. Use fencing and remove brush piles to deter snakes. Trim branches around feeders to prevent ambush points for predators.
Conclusion
Observing activity in your yard this season and keeping detailed records will help reveal what factors may be contributing to fewer hummingbird sightings. Provide a diverse, abundant source of flowers, shrubs, and feeders from early spring through fall to support your local hummingbird population. Evaluate the yard for predator risks. Encourage neighbors to reduce pesticide use. With extra care and planning, you can create an ideal haven that will attract more hummingbirds back to your yard in coming years.
