Creating A Habitat For Hummingbirds

People go to great lengths to attract hummingbirds to their gardens. Some people use various types of plants and specific colors which hummingbirds are attracted to, while others use feeders to try to entice these little birds to visit. However, a feeder alone is not always enough to get hummingbirds interested in visiting your garden. If this is the case, then you could try building a special habitat for them. Here are some guidelines for building an inviting hummingbird habitat:

Hummingbirds are the smallest bird in the world, so the habitat you build for them does not have to be very large. Attractive flowers and plants placed around a tin box or small basket could be enough to attract hummingbirds. With a little patience and creativity you should be able to make something suitable quite simply.

You also need to put some thought into the placement of flowering plants. Don't scatter flowers around the garden, instead place plants close together which produce the same color of flower, which will make a very noticeable and attractive display for hummingbirds.

Perennials are a good choice for your plants, because they grow every year and can become quite tall. They will also be an ongoing attraction for hummingbirds year after year, as these birds are known for returning time and again to a particular food source once they have located it. Some of the best known and most common perennials for attracting hummingbirds are red columbine, cardinal flower, foxglove, bleeding heart, coral bells, and red bee balm.

For a new garden, annuals can work well too because they grow quickly, and are usually fairly inexpensive. This means you can plant lots of them and soon have plants in profusion in your garden. Red petunias and salvia work well to attract hummingbirds.

If you want to save money, then one good way is to grow your plants from seed. This is also a good way to achieve variety, and you have lots of choice as to which plants you can grow. Raise the seeds indoors, then transplant them outside, because this will not only save money but also result in better plants. By starting them indoors, you can start them earlier, and when you plant them outside, they will be earlier bloomers than ones which started life outdoors.

Once planted, here are some maintenance tips:

- Use insecticides as little as possible

- Keep up the nectar levels in your plants

- Add a water supply, because this will attract not only birds but also insects, which are also a food supply for hummingbirds

- Be sure to supply feeders for your hummingbirds

- Provide a shallow bird bath or mister, as hummingbirds love these

All you need after creating your hummingbird habitat is a suitable place from which to watch the hummingbirds which will be attracted to your beautiful garden. A cool, shady spot with a hammock is a great setting for this spectator sport. Add a cool drink, and you have the perfect ingredients for a relaxing garden experience of hummingbird watching!