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![]() I did a blog last year about trying to encourage young birds to feeders. As much as we appreciate hummingbirds doing their natural thing and pollinating the flowers, there can be a shortage of food in a garden to keep them around for several days. Feeders are one of those flowers that never run out of nectar, and if we can convert them over to the feeders, they'll stick around much longer and get the benefits of both flowers and feeders. Feeders were made to look like flowers in order to attract hummingbirds, but too often the flowers on the feeders look nothing like the flowers in our gardens. When hummingbirds figure out a certain type of flower that they really like, they become single focused and look at nothing but that type of flower. It's only once they mature that they start to realize that you take any opportunity for food that you can find, and when you see any of the nectar filled flowers, you feed from them all and not just remain singly focused on one type. In this case, a young Ruby-throat figured out that there is nectar deep within the tail of the Nasturtium flowers. The Nasturtiums very quickly became the go to flower. This youngster still didn't know feeders yet, so it was time to place out the "Training Feeder". I have some fake Nasturtium flowers attached to the feeder to try and attract them to the red bottle that they will one day never forget. Too often I've had young hummingbirds feed for a couple days without ever understanding the the sweet gold of the feeders. Many have left without ever realizing the full potential of our garden and all the feeders within. As a matter of fact many people have said that hummingbirds showed up at their yards and only fed from flowers and not the feeders. This is the reasoning. Young birds need to learn feeders just like they have to learn the ins and outs of different types of flowers at how to access the nectar. At some point they'll learn the feeders the further south they go, and the more hummingbirds at feeders that they'll encounter. My training feeders haven't always worked, but in most cases they have. Once they taste the nectar from the fake flower on the feeder, they'll start to recognize the red bottle behind it. That red bottle will have significance every time they fly around the garden noticing the other red bottles everywhere. The training feeder went up just before this youngster came and sat on the hook that held the feeder. We'll see if he learns. N.E. of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. July 28, 2018.
4 Comments
Dianne West
8/5/2018 08:56:03 am
Thank you so much for this insight! I never really thought of it in this light, but it makes so much sense. We don't have a garden, but we do have flowering plants and hanging baskets. Our birds only occasionally visit the flowers, preferring instead to feast on the feeders. Is this detrimental to their well being, since they are focused on the feeders to the exclusion of the available flowers? We have petunias, roses, million bells, impatiens and mandivillas. We are in South Carolina, so our only hummers are Ruby Throated.
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michael
8/5/2018 10:49:51 am
If we go by the past 70 years of feeding hummingbirds with feeders, I believe there's been NO indication that it's unhealthy for the hummingbirds. They are basically getting sucrose from flowers, and that's what we provide with the sugar mixture. They will still feed from flowers and on insects, and gain the protein and vitamins required. I believe they will get whatever they need from what they choose, and even though they prefer feeders, they will frequently poke around in the flowers to get what's necessary. What I can say is that history gives us a very good indication that our feeders haven't hurt the population. If anything, I believe we give them better opportunities to fatten up for their migration. What I've noticed is that the young feed a lot from flowers, but as they age, they realize less energy is required to gain the food from the feeders. But like I said earlier, they are primarily getting sucrose from flowers, and that's what we are giving them. The only thing I would avoid is store bought nectar that has preservatives. It's anyone's guess as to how it would affect their little bodies. Coloring in their food is simply not necessary as most feeders have colors on them.
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3/15/2022 07:19:29 pm
I would love your permission to use the photo of the hummingbird feeding on Nasturtium in a blog post. I will give you credit and plus link back to your blog.
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Michael Wiens
3/15/2022 07:27:52 pm
That would be fine with me Suzanne. I appreciate you asking.
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