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by Stephen Bahr

    Every year at this time I anticipate the awakening of spring and the return of our migrating songbirds. For those who have experienced the thrill of watching a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird working over a cluster of blooms, Spring can't come soon enough! I am one of many who are amazed by their aerial antics and brilliant flashes of iridescent charm , and have maintained a garden especially for them. If you have a hummingbird feeder here in New Jersey but don't get many visitors, there are steps you can take to get your yard buzzing with these flying jewels all summer long!

    Keep in mind that our hummingbirds aren't interested in entertaining us and are strictly in the business of survival. To successfully attract Hummingbirds you simply want to create a habitat which fulfills their particular needs. They require an abundance of nectar, food, water and shelter for them to be enticed into setting up camp in your neighborhood.

    Hummingbirds have evolved with certain native flowers for millions of years and they are especially drawn to these nectar sources. Here are some of the top native plants that I highly recommend :

Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) perennial    vine-full sun
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)      perennial    vine-full sun
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)   perennial    shade/part shade
Cardinal-flower (Lobelia cardinalis)    perennial sun/part shade
Native Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)    perennial      part shade
Red Buckeye (Aesculusus pavia)   perennial tree   part shade
Jacob Cline Bee Balm (Monarda)             perennial      sun/part shade

    Most of these plants have bright red blooms which hummers are instinctively drawn to. In general, hummingbirds favor red flowers, bees are drawn to yellow and butterflies prefer purple. Here is a list of other proven hummingbird winners perfect for a New Jersey garden:

Species Canna      tender bulb      full sun
Crocosmia lucifer      hardy bulb   full sun
Red-Hot-Poker (Kniphofia uvaria)   perennial      full sun
Salvia   annual           full sun
Agastaches                                 perennial    sun/part shade
Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea)   annual   full sun
Butterfly Bush (Buddlejia)    perennial bush   sun
Cardinal Climber (Ipmoea quamoclit)    annual vine      full sun
Mina Vine (Mina lobata)      annual vine      full sun
Red-Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguenium)   perennial shrub sun/part shade
Fuschia      annual           part shade/shade
Bleeding Heart (dicentra eximia) perennial    part shade/shade

Perched Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female)

Assorted plantings of several choices from these lists will ensure different bloom times and help to keep hummingbirds locked-in to your garden from spring till early fall. A well maintained feeder will provide them with a continuing source of nectar as well. I prefer the saucer style models with a moat in the center to deter ants. Make sure to mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water for your feeders. Be sure to clean and re-fill your feeder every 2 to 3 days in the heat of the summer so the solution wont spoil. Try to keep the feeder at least 4 feet off the ground to help protect the birds from cats and other predators. You may want to keep the feeder up through December to help supply nectar for occasional Western migrant hummingbird species. Rufous, Calliope, Allen's and Anna's Hummingbirds have been known to show up in New Jersey during the Fall so be on the lookout!

Hummingbirds also rely on a variety of small insects for protein in their diet. They will often glean blooms and foliage for bugs during the day. I often set out a small bowl of rotting fruit to attract fruit flies which they just love! You will also attract a variety of butterflies with rotting fruit.

On skyhawk

Although nectar is mostly comprised of water, hummingbirds will also exploit a water source. If you have a bird bath with a fountain you will notice hummers making use of it. Hummingbird 'Misters' are available on the market which you can attach to your garden hose. The mister will emit a small spray mist of water which hummingbirds love to shower in during the heat of the afternoon.

Cardinal climber hummer

Providing a shady retreat will give your hummers a place to perch and nest. The fact is, hummingbirds spend most of the day at rest. Rufous and Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds make about 3 to 6 foraging runs per hour , most of the rest of their time is spent quietly perching. Take steps to plant shade trees and as much lush foliage as you can offer. These tiny birds prefer branches at 1/4" thick or less. They especially love twining vines, suckers, snags, and clothes lines! Your chances of getting a female to nest in your yard also increases with the amount of plant structure you can offer. Females will make use of moss and lichens to camouflage their nests.

Hummingbird on Great Blue Lobelia

Once you have regular visitors be prepared to see them again next season if they survive the winter months. Their little brains are wired to return exactly to where they found suitable habitat the year before. Offspring will also migrate to the exact location they were raised and spread out from there depending on territory disputes with others. If you continue to maintain your habitat and offer your neighbors cuttings and seeds of hummer favorites, your neighborhood will turn into a hummer-airport within a few seasons!

Good luck in attracting hummingbirds this season and remember to check for them in the early morning and late evening hours. They are known to be most active during these periods of the day and are active on overcast, rainy days as well. Feel free to contact me if you have any specific hummingbird questions!

The butterfly stroke

Happy Gardening!

Stephen Bahr (colubris@optonline.net)

* To get additional hummingbird plant ideas and info, go to my online hummingbird garden gallery at Picturetrail.com, proceed to the Stephennj gallery.

Additional photographs by Stephen Bahr

Garden, Aug, 7, evening Hummingbird

Mourning Dove juvenile Pine Warbler

Red Hot Poker

Red-tailed Hawk Prothonotary Warbler