02/21/2024
Ruby-throated hummingbirds will be here soon! Many of us in Mississippi will be seeing ruby red-throated hummingbirds by the end of March.
They will remain here until November before returning to Central and South America. Ruby-throated hummingbirds generally only migrate throughout the eastern half of the U.S. Other species of hummingbirds may appear in our area, but the ruby-throated is the most common.
Tips for attracting hummingbirds:
🔸Prepare a homemade nectar for them to feed on. Mix four parts water and one-part sugar and boil for two minutes. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before filling the feeder. The mixture will spoil in the heat, so change the mixture every three to five days.
🔸Always clean the feeders well with hot soapy water and rinse before the first use and each time you refill them throughout the season to help reduce bacteria growth. You can store any leftover mixture in the refrigerator for easy use.
🔸Putting red food coloring into the homemade nectar to help attract hummingbirds to the feeder is not necessary and provides no benefits to the hummingbirds. Most feeders are red, and that helps attract the birds.
🔸Hummingbirds are pollinators and feed on a variety of plants commonly found in landscapes. Plants like begonia, petunia, nasturtium, and zinnia are great annuals to incorporate into your yard. Other perennials and shrubs hummingbirds are fond of include butterfly w**d, lantana, azaleas and salvia.
🔸They also need a water source. Consider purchasing a mister to attach to your water hose or a shallow birdbath with perching rocks.
