Fast and colourful hummingbirds are a joy to watch as they flit around, and you can watch them from your own home. Turn your yard into a hummingbird paradise in just a few steps.

There’s something wonderful about catching a glimpse of a hummingbird. These quick and nimble fliers aren’t the easiest to spot — you might not even know that your garden is being visited if you aren’t paying attention. But there are some steps you can take to transform the outdoors of your home into a hummingbird haven that will keep them coming back.

Plant Plenty of Flowers

Hummingbirds love flowers, or rather, the sugary and energy-packed nectar inside them. Because of the energy they use up when flying, hummingbirds are always on the lookout for sustenance, and they need to eat almost continuously. The long beaks and tongues of these pollinators are specialized for reaching into long and tube-shaped flowers like trumpet creeper or honeysuckle. They love variety, but they are particularly attracted to the colour red (dark shades of orange are good as well).

Hang Up a Hummingbird Feeder

Because hummingbirds expend so much energy and are always looking for new sources of calories, you can help them by hanging specialized bird feeders designed specifically for them. Hummingbirds don’t eat birdseed, so hummingbird feeders are actually filled with sugar water. Make a solution of one part sugar and four parts boiling water and let it cool before filling the feeder.

The two most important features of a good hummingbird feeder are its colour (red) and that it’s easy to take apart for cleaning. If old sugar water is left in the feeder for too long, it can grow mouldy, so it is important to clean the feeder at least every two to three days and fill it with a fresh solution.

Offer Trees and Shrubs

Plant some trees and shrubs that will give the hummingbird visitors to your yard a place to rest and perhaps even roost. Hummingbirds create cup-like nests that they build out of twigs, plant fibres, lichens, and spider webs, which they can source from the trees and shrubs as well.

Stay Away from Pesticides

One of the easiest ways to make your yard attractive and safe for hummingbirds is to avoid using pesticides. Pesticides will not only kill off the insects and spiders that hummingbirds rely on, but they can cause harm to the birds themselves. A good way to avoid the use of pesticides is to grow healthy and robust plants that can resist infestation.

Set Up a Birdbath

Hummingbirds will love your yard even more if they have fresh water to drink and bathe in. Adding a fountain that mists or sprays will help attract hummingbirds in particular. It’s also a good idea to place rocks in the birdbath to give the hummingbirds something to perch on.

A yard that attracts hummingbirds will be a more beautiful and enjoyable yard to spend time in as well. Enjoy your morning coffee among the flowers and plants as you watch the hummingbirds go by.