Habitat for hummingbirds

After several conversations during the last few weeks, I have come to realize that there is a prevalent misconception among many gardeners concerning hummingbirds. The idea is that if you hang a hummingbird feeder, they will come. Unfortunately this idea could not be further from the truth.

Hummingbirds, just like any other animal, require food, water and shelter for survival. They look for a habitat that provides for these three needs, and that is where they stay. If you provide food for them by hanging a hummingbird feeder, but the requirement of water and shelter is lacking, they may come for a visit, but I doubt that many hummers will stay permanently during the summer season.

If you want hummingbirds to make your landscape their home, start by planting flowers, trees and shrubs that they prefer. When it comes to trees and shrubs for shelter, they are not very particular. Plant ones with different mature heights, and with different foliage shapes and densities. For example, plant blue spruce, Foster holly, redbud, dogwood, forsythia, spirea, weigela, oak, hickory and pine. This diverse group of plants will certainly go a long way toward providing shelter for your hummers.

Next plant shrubs, perennials and annuals that have flowers in the shape of trumpets. You can use annual and perennial salvia, daylilies, foxglove and different honeysuckles, just to name a few.

The long trumpet-shaped flower is just what the hummingbird nutritionist ordered. Not only do these flowers provide an abundance of nectar for hummingbirds, but they also are a reservoir for small insects to drown in. These small insects are an important part of the diet of hummingbirds. Contrary to what I used to think, hummingbirds need more than just nectar (or sugar water) to live on.

Trumpet-shaped flowers

These long trumpet-shaped flowers also play another role in the hummingbird feeding and survival. Few other birds or insects have a tongue long enough to stick down the tube of a trumpet-shaped flower and extract nectar. In a way, trumpet-shaped flowers discourage other "nectarvores" from competing with hummingbirds.

Besides food and shelter, hummingbirds also need a source of water. Of course nectar has a lot of water in it, so in a way nectar is one source of water. On the other hand, if you place a very shallow birdbath in your landscape, or provide a water mister for these birds to bathe in, you will probably find that more hummers will make your landscape their home.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine what a hummingbird needs to survive. Hummers, just like you, need water, shelter and food. If you provide for these needs in your landscape, you may be surprised how many hummingbirds may call your landscape their home.

I have recently been asked how to keep finches, sapsuckers and other birds from sitting on one side of a hummingbird feeder, tipping it with their weight, and either lapping up the nectar as it spills out, or just simply spilling the nectar. In the process the hummingbirds are being bullied out of the yard. I would suggest that you remove the perch on your hummingbird feeder. The hummer is the only local bird that I know can feed while hovering in midair. Most other birds need a perch on which to sit while they are dining. I hope this helps some of you with the same problem.

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or by e-mail to news@semissourian. com.