One of the great ways to attract hummingbirds to your yard is to have some water misters in place. Even though hummingbirds meet their liquid needs from sugary solution, they need to keep their feathers clean and in good condition. Clean plumage help keep the bird safe and secure from extreme weather conditions. Plus, they also allow hummingbirds to enjoy efficient flight.
Savvy backyard birders know the significance of providing moving water sources as they enjoy watching these birds preening and bathing in summertime. In the natural environment, these delicate birds rinse off their feathers by flitting through a fine spray of waterfalls or splashing waters. You can add just about the same natural showers in your hummingbird garden and make your birds happy.
How To Provide Water Source For Hummingbirds
Thanks to their smaller size, hummingbirds cannot bathe in a usual birdbath. A typical basin is simply too wide and too deep for these little whimsical creatures. For hummingbirds to bathe, make sure to set up shallow water basin. Chances are you may not find a shallower source, in which case try putting some stones into it.
Misters
One of the most effective ways to transform your backyard landscape is to place misters for a light drizzle onto the leaves. As leaves glisten with fine droplets, more birds will get attracted and will contort their bodies against wet foliage. Hummingbirds may fly straight through the mister’s spray if the spray is light enough.
Sprinklers
While designing a hummingbird garden, if you add a misting sprinkler to it, not only will it water your shrubs but it will also make your visiting hummers happy. Misting sprinklers can be very effective in preventing evaporation of unused water. The flowering plants and shrubs will absorb any excess water.
Drippers
One of the popular ways to add water into a hummingbird garden is add a slow dripper. If you position the dripper in such a way that water splash may splash on leaves or rocks. The sound of the dripper will also attract more hummingbirds hovering nearby. As more and more hummers hear the splashes, they will congregate and may hover under small drips to bathe.
Fountains
As water seeps through the rims and ledges of the fountains, it will attract more birds to your garden. These tiny fliers can easily perch on the shallow spots of these fountains and enjoy even more. If your fountain has rough textures like in slate slabs, it will be more comfortable for hummingbirds since it allows the birds plenty of space to get the water.
How To Create A Solar Hummingbird Fountain
- It’s pretty easy to set up a solar fountain in your yard. For that, you just need to have a basin that is not too wide and not too deep. Keep in mind, hummingbirds are tiny cheerful creatures and they need shallow water to bathe. The basin must be only just deep such that it can submerge a little pump inside. However, if you throw some stones in a pedestal birdbath, it can also work fine.
- Check the level of water inside the basin and be sure to do refills, if required. The water level can drop on windy days which is why you need to take special care during these times. Also, keep an eye on the pump, and make sure it doesn’t run dry. This pump must be connected to the solar panel with a cord, and this panel must be oriented in a way that it receives direct sunlight.
- One of the great things about a solar fountain is that you can literally put it just about anywhere you like. The reason being, it doesn’t require any electrical outlet to work.
- Once you spot the bubbles, just try to add a little twig or branch right next to the fountain. As the hummingbird stops by and seeks to bend its body, it will be a great fun to watch them bathing.
- Given the tiny feet of hummingbirds, just pick a very skinny branch about four feet in length. Dead branches are some of the best ones for making hummingbird perches, especially from deciduous or maple trees. Now put one end of the sticks into the soil to secure them firmly onto the ground. If you want to make your birds more happy, just get any part of the twiggy dead branch and pass it through the fountain shower. This way, you can witness some of the memorable moments by watching them preening and bathing as they buzz their wings in the process.
Useful Tips for Hummingbird Water Sources
- Providing water sources for these little zippy birds is not enough because you also need to make sure that the water is safe, secure and always fresh for your tiny feathered friends.
- In order to keep the steady flow of water, never forget to clean the nozzles all the time. What’s more, if the position of misters or drippers do not change, it will result in the surrounding getting filthy. Also make sure that there is an uninterrupted flow of water inside spigots and hoses.
- Hummingbird perches are super important for these birds to do preening and sunning. Adding perches (like clotheslines and cables) into your garden allow them to rest and dry off their plumage. Besides, you can have stunning views at the visiting hummers.
- Always be wary of the depth of birdbaths given the tiny size of hummingbirds. Also, it is important to check the flow of water. Hummers don’t need a deep basin for bathing. In fact, they simply require a light shower in shallow basins. However, you can add some extra pebbles to make your birdbath shallow and make your birds happy.
- Cats and some avian predators may be on the lookout of hummingbirds while they are bathing. Be sure to position your water source in a safe and secure area. For a safe shelter, you can add some little twigs and branches to a bush pile nearby. In this way, whenever the birds feel any danger, they may have some place to retreat.
