Goose wrote:

I want to put a hummingbird feeder out, but my wife is concerned about bears.

Any thoughts?

Well, then DO NOT show her THIS ! 





 

I was given one many years ago but decided against using it for two reasons;

1)  High maintenance.  The sugar/syrup food should be changed at least every other day, every day in  warm weather.

2)  The sugary food will attract bees (no problem) and, as summer progresses, yellow jackets or "ground hornets" as some call them.  They are nasty, aggressive, and can sting multiple times unlike the honeybee.

I planted several plants that attract hummers around my patio/deck.  It really works, and you don't get the problems that are associated with artificial feeders.  I've found the 'hot lips' plant works quite well.  I'm not sure of its scientific name (hot lips is obviously a common name for it).  It grows to a height of 4 feet and is visited by hummers every day.  I planted 5 of them with two in a large pot on my deck.  They require very little care, although as they grow, you might want to stake them with a rod of bamboo.

If you have a trellis or high chain-link fence, you could plant cardinal vine seeds.  That works great for me, too.

You don't have to mess with a feeder if you don't want to deal with that to attract the little guys.  They seem most active in the morning and evening, so sitting out on your deck/patio with a glass of chianti around 6 or 7 pm and gazing over the plantings can be quite relaxing.  One word to add ............ you need to be lucky sometimes because if you blink you could miss them.  The little buggers are fast, really fast, and quite territorial.  Sometimes you can watch them dive-bomb eachother which is sort of a hoot to watch, too.

Bottomline:  Visit a nursery, tell someone working there you want to attract hummingbirds and butterflies and let them offer suggestions.  The bonus is you'll be able to surround the place with beautiful color.

Last edited by Just Fred (5/17/2015 6:18 am)

Well, did put a feeder up and have regular visits by hummingbirds.
They seem to actually prefer the flowers that my wife has placed in window boxes and the deck.
Very interesting little critters.

Well, aren't you brilliant!  Super idea and as I posted here previously ants in the feeder were always a problem.  My feeder was also on a shepherd's hook.  I trashed the years-old feeders and bought a new one this year but never got it put up.  Now I will.