Can you attract Hummingbirds in Philadelphia?

Answer 1

Yes, the Ruby Throated Hummingbird breeds there in summer, from late April until late September or early October. To attract them to your yard, put out hummingbird feeders with nectar (sugar water). Any hardware or discount store should have what you need. Note: Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. If you use a red colored feeder (most are) it will help to lure them in to investigate for potential food. If you set out a planter of red flowers close to the feeder, that will speed up the process. Red petunias work very well. They tend to like the flowers that are Trumpet shaped most, like petunias, coral bells, trumpet vine, honeysuckle, etc. Another sure fire lure to bring them to you is a trickling fountain or even just a tin can with a small hole punctured in the bottom that drips into another can of water, the sound of water is one of the best methods of attraction of all birds, even better than food as an attractant.

Start with the feeder about 15 feet from the house and wait. Once you see them regularly coming and going from the feeder, gradually move it closer to the house a few feet at a time over a period of 2 - 3 weeks, until you get it close enough to see well from inside the house. Remember that the sugar water nectar will be sticky and will attract ants, so you don't want it to be where it can drip on a patio or other finished surface. There are "ant traps" that you can buy that work very well, they work like a moat to keep ants from getting to the hanging feeders. Buy feeders that also have bee guards on them. You will enjoy more visitors if you get feeders that have multiple feeding "stations". Or, hang multiple feeders around the yard. Hummingbirds are very territorial, and you will have hummingbird wars with aerial "dog fights" unless you provide multiple feeders with some distance between them.

To make your own nectar for the feeders: Mix 1/4 cup of pure granulated sugar for every one cup of water (use pure bottled water if your tap water is highly chlorinated). Bring the water to a boil stirring to dissolve the sugar. Allow to boil rapidly for approximately 2-3 minutes. Cool to room temperature before using. Store unused nectar covered in the refrigerator. The nectar will stay fresh longer out of direct sunlight, but the trade off is you'll have less light to see the beauty of the hummingbirds and their iridescent feathers in the sunlight. Check the food regularly, daily in hot weather, to be sure it is not clouded and soured. Rinse the feeder and replace with fresh room temperature nectar. It is not necessary, and often said to be unhealthy for the hummingbirds, to use the artificially red colored "nectar" or to add food color to that which you make. The red feeder and red flowers will be enough to attract them.Never use any recipes that call for honey. Honey can give the birds a fungal infection of the tongue and they can be unable to eat and starve.