Hummingbirds are ready to party in your Delaware backyard. Here’s how to attract them

Would you like hummingbirds to look at your bird feeder the same way Homer Simpson looks at a cold beer?  

You’re definitely not alone. We have some tips that will help to turn your feeder into Delaware’s version of Moe’s Bar for this hummingbird this season — minus the drunken shenanigans.

There’s also an interactive map below from HummingbirdCentral.com, that will help you to locate hummingbird sightings across the state. According to the map, several hummingbirds were spotted in Wilmington on Tuesday.

Where to hang hummingbird houses? 

An ideal time for Delawareans to set up, freshen up and clean your birdfeeders for hummingbirds is in late April, according to a report by Geoff LeBaron, Christmas Bird Count director for the National Audubon Society.   

What do I put in my bird feeder?  

The only food/nectar you need in your bird feeder is sugar and water. But make sure it’s white sugar (not brown). And the ratio between water to sugar should be 4:1, LeBron told us last spring.

Bird lovers hoping to attract hummingbirds should never use any other sweeteners, honey or other substances, LeBaron said.

“Those may contain things that can harm hummingbirds, and the sugar water as outlined here is an accurate mimic of natural flower nectar,” he added.

How to keep ants out of hummingbird feeders? 

Some hummingbird feeders include moats to drown ants that climb onto them. If your feeder doesn’t have a moat, you can go somewhere like Lowes to buy attachable ant guards to trap pests, the National Audubon Society suggests.  The bird conservation organization says bee guards are less deadly and if you’re still having infestation problems, avoid feeders with yellow hues because bees are attracted to the bright color.   

How can I attract more hummingbirds?  

The ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only breeding species east of the Rocky Mountains, which is the hummingbird you’ll most likely see in Delaware, LeBaron said.

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But hummingbirds aren’t gonna stick around your yard just for a drink of sweet water. These creatures are really looking for the plants that feed them, as well as insects. Ninety percent of their diet is from protein, mostly tiny insects.   

Matt Del Pizzo of Port Penn, past president of the Delaware Audubon Society, previously told us that red flowers are attractive to the birds. Other plants that hummingbirds enjoy include jewelweed, native oak trees, goldenrods and columbine.   

Where should I put my hummingbird feeder?  

Hanging feeders under a tree with shade or under a porch is ideal for hummingbirds as they don’t want to get burnt to a crisp in the summer.   

If you have a window surrounded by a shady area, that’ll also give you a cool view of the birds, Doug Tallamy, professor of agriculture and natural resources in the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware, previously told us.

Here are 11 plants to attract hummingbirds to your garden

Plan your hummingbird garden using these 11 plants.

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Angela Peterson and Lou Saldivar, Wochit

How long will hummingbirds be in Delaware?  

Fall migration of hummingbirds will probably extend through October in Delaware. Leaving your feeder out longer can help to attract more birds, LeBaron said.  

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.