The Hummingbirds Are Here!

In addition to some leftover April showers, the month of May is looking to promise to bring us something else – in addition to the inevitable flowers.

As we embark deeper into the spring, many of us have begun to notice the arrival of many of our spring and summer songbirds as they vie for the attention of suitable mates and head into the breeding and nesting season.

In addition to our finches, warblers, robins and wrens, many of us are filled with the anticipated arrival of our ruby-throated hummingbirds.  Waiting for warmer weather, these small and high-energy birds keep us on the edge of our seats as we patiently await the first sightings of the season.

The good news is, we don’t have to wait any longer.

A quick glance at hummingbirds.net’s handy hummingbird migration tracking map reveals that hummers safely arrive in much of southern Ontario and the sightings are beginning to pile up here in Ottawa and eastern Ontario.

With much of southern Ontario experiencing their first hummingbirds as early as mid-April, the beginning of May is beginning to show more and more of our ruby-throated favourites heading into our neck of the woods.

With a sighting just south of us on May 3rd as well as one just across the Ottawa River, they are certainly on their way, with more and more popping up just south of us.  As the weather continues to warm up, keep your eyes peeled and your feeders full.  With that in mind, here are a few tips to get your backyard set up for hummers over the next couple of weeks.

Clean Your Feeders

Nothing is worse for our birds than a dirty feeder.  With the potential of spreading disease among our feathered friends, we always stress the importance of regular maintenance on not only feeders but nesting boxes as well.

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Even if you gave your hummingbird feeders a spit shine after last season, it’s never a bad idea to give them one more cleaning before hanging them up.

Prepare Your Nectar

Never mind the ineffective (and unsafe) red nectars readily available, instead invest in a box of our do-it-yourself nectar.  This solution allows you to quickly and easily make a nectar that is natural and better suited for your busy hummingbirds.

Hang Your Feeders

There is much debate as to the perfect timing for hanging your hummingbird feeders and without consulting an interactive map backed by actual sightings, it really is guesswork.  At this point, it is safe to say that you should have your hummingbird feeders on display and filled with some of our hummingbird nectar.