To prevent your hummingbird food from going bad too quickly, Rodomsky-Bish recommends a smaller-capacity feeder, like this one from Amazon. Bonus: Thanks to the low profile and “high-view perch” of the feeder, you’ll have an unobstructed 360-degree view of the feeding frenzy. Another tip from Rodomsky-Bish: Avoid the red liquid that often comes prepackaged with hummingbird feeders (the dye isn’t good for them). Instead, opt for a clear solution or make your own by mixing one part sugar and four parts water.
9. Native plants
If you want to attract hummingbirds without having to clean a bunch of feeders all the time, Rodomsky-Bish says there are plenty of plants that will do the trick. If you’re planting directly into the ground, she recommends native species so you support the ecology (think insects and the web of animals who eat them) of the area. In the northeast, where Rodomsky-Bish lives, coral honeysuckles are a good native option. On the West Coast, bee balms and columbine provide the flower power you’ll want.
If you opt for a potted plant, you have a little more wiggle room, since you aren’t making a lasting change to the landscape. In that case, Rodomsky-Bish recommends fuchsia, which is native to some areas in the US, but not all. “I have a couple of fuchsia that I hang right outside my windows—they pull hummingbirds in just like a feeder,” she says. (If you’re interested in learning more about using native plants to cultivate a bird-friendly environment, the Audubon website is a great resource.)
10. A bird book
Once birds start flocking to your backyard, you’ll want to know who’s who. (After all, that bird spreadsheet you created isn’t going to fill itself out!) For identification purposes, you can’t go wrong with a classic guidebook, like this one from National Geographic, which includes descriptions of 150 species you’re likely to spot right outside your window.
11. Binoculars
Binoculars don’t just come in handy for bird-watching from afar—even with a birdbath or feeder a few feet from your window, sometimes it’s nice to zoom in for all those fine details, like subtle shifts in coloring. This cute (yet rugged!) is a fave of SELF’s bird-loving editor in chief.
12. An anti-collision decal
In curating a backyard bird sanctuary, you’ve also appointed yourself a bird steward, responsible for creating a safe environment for your new feathered friends. This means avoiding what ornithologists call “ecological traps.” “That happens when a person is trying to do something good by putting a resource out for wildlife, but that resource ultimately creates a hazard that injures or kills that animal,” Rodomsky-Bish explains.
To that end, bird feeders should be placed either very close to windows (like two to three feet away) or very far away from windows (50 feet or more). Closer ensures that a startled bird can’t gain enough flying momentum to be killed by a window collision, while more distance ensures that a bird will see the full scope of your house and be more likely to avoid it. Rodomsky-Bish also recommends putting up some window decals up to two inches apart to make the glass more visible for birds. Pantin also recommends turning off unnecessary lights at night to further avoid collisions.
A few additional safety notes: “Keep your cats indoors,” Pantin says. “And don’t reach for insecticides when you see bugs in your garden, as these chemicals can do significant harm to birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects.” And when it comes to your surroundings, Pantin says doing less can actually do more (a.k.a. you have permission to be a little lazy with your yardwork). “Unraked leaves and flowers past their prime that are left standing can provide spaces for birds to forage, feed, and safely nest,” she says.
And with that, happy bird-watching!