Around mid-March there’s a bit of a buzz in the air; this marks the remarkable annual arrival of the hummingbirds to the Central Texas area.
It’s easy to see why people are attracted to these expert flyers – they are tiny miracles with wing beats of up to 200 per second. Not just that but they can fly upside down, backwards, and they can dive at speeds of around 60 miles per hour!
I’m a fan of hummingbirds and have found easy ways to attract them to my garden. Over the years I’ve picked-up some tips below for how to be hummingbird friendly, including an easy recipe for making nectar that can attract hummingbirds to your home.
Time:
To Prepare: About 5 minutes
To Cool: About 30 minutes
Fast Facts:
❤ Clean your hummingbird feeder regularly. Make sure to clean and store your feeder after the hummingbirds have migrated from the area (usually late summer to early December).
❤ Change the nectar weekly and every 2-3 days in the hotter summer months. When you see the nectar turning cloudy it's fermenting, signaling that it’s time to clean the feeder and change the nectar.
❤ Avoid red dyes, honey, and artificial sweeteners; they are not necessary and in some cases can be unhealthy for the birds.
❤ There are some great resources available for how plants can attract hummingbirds to your garden. Texas A&M’s “Herb’s For Texas Landscapes” is one of my trusted favorites. You can download a .PDF of the resource here.
Spotted in northwest Austin this Canyon Creek hummingbird takes a well-deserved break.
Nectar Ingredients:
1 Part | Sugar
4 Parts | Water
What To Do:
1. Fill a medium pot with the sugar and then add the water.
2. Stir a few times over medium/high heat to dissolve the sugar. The sugar water should dissolve without having to bring the water to a boil.
3. Remove the pot from heat and let it rest until cool.
4. Transfer the nectar into your feeder and feed away! 5. I usually make extra nectar and transfer it to a container to store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
~ Joe Paul Reider
Home Style Austin Founder Austin Realtor® Keller Williams Realty
Email: JoePaul@KW.com Mobile: 512-222-3302 Web: JoePaulReider.KW.com
I scored this handmade crystal hummingbird at the Blanco Lavender Festival – it’s a favorite!