As hummingbirds start to consider nesting options, it鈥檚 time for those who feed them to think about their part in the process.

The south coast of B.C. is not a natural place for hummingbirds, but over the decades of urbanization, gardens and feeders have lured them north from California and Baja, explains Alison Moran of the Hummingbird Project with the Rocky Point Bird Observatory.

They鈥檙e one of the few birds positively impacted by humans, she said.

First noted on Vancouver Island in the 1960s, it took 30 years before people really started to see them, Moran said.

鈥淲hat we did is provide abundant resources and they took the bait 鈥� they just went for it.鈥�

They鈥檙e even spotted as far afield as Alaska and Nova Scotia now, but on the south coast of B.C., they鈥檒l hang out all year.

鈥淭hese birds breed during the winter because that鈥檚 a perfect time to breed if you live in California. So they鈥檙e starting to set up territories now, but it鈥檚 just going to get busier and busier into December,鈥� Moran said.

The birds are making their nesting decisions based on resources, so those who feed them need to commit by mid-November or give them a chance to find other sources 鈥� which they will.

If the neighbourhood is riddled with feeders, it鈥檚 not a big deal to go away for a holiday. If you鈥檙e the sole source, now鈥檚 a good time to evaluate your commitment, Moran said.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to take care of them, either do it well or don鈥檛 do it at all.鈥�

That means appropriate maintenance as well.

Keep it simple. One part white sugar, four parts water is the best recipe 鈥� using only white sugar.

Keep it liquid. While south coast winters are mild, even island feeders need warming at times. Moran purchased a heater to keep hers warm, while a friend created a DIY version. Either way, nectar needs to remain liquid, as freezing impacts concentrations within the feeder.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to not let your feeder freeze and not create the super-concentrated syrup,鈥� she says.

In the wild, birds can tolerate slightly higher concentrations of sugar, as long as they have a source of water. In freezing conditions, water for dilution may not be readily available.

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Keep it clean. It is important to clean the feeder and refresh nectar regularly. In the cooler weather, cleaning could be once a week, but in summer should be every two days.

鈥淐hoose a feeder that is easy to clean so you can get into the ports and clean all the muck out.鈥�

Moran also suggests simplifying things by making a batch to keep in the fridge and only putting out what will be used.

The volunteer-run Hummingbird Project includes teams that monitor and study migratory, breeding and behavioural patterns. The data offers insight on populations, their health, migratory routes and diet. The team monitors the five hummingbird species found commonly in Canada: Rufous, Anna鈥檚, Calliope, black-chinned and ruby-throated.

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