Coastal British Columbians and their Accidental Pet Hummingbirds

If you live on the South Coast of BC, you might decide to put out a hummingbird feeder in the summer. This might be just a whim, an innocent gesture to watch these delightful little birds zip hither and thither, dainty and adorable, but also surprisingly vicious. These guys can be very territorial, often guarding a feeder for themselves and chasing off any others who might try and sip from it.

The two most common species of hummingbird in BC are the Anna’s Hummingbird and the Rufous Hummingbird. The Rufous are migratory and only come up for the summer months, but the Anna’s will occupy a small corner of SW British Columbia year-round. This is why, if you put out a feeder in summer, you might suddenly find yourself having accidentally adopted one of these guys through the winter. And what a challenge it can be.

The warmest corner of the province is not immune to the odd cold snap. Called an Arctic Outflow, these winds can bring temperatures as low as -20 C. This phenomenon usually happens once or twice a winter for a week or so at a time, and during this time, feeding your little hummer suddenly becomes a matter of life and death for the little fellas. Nectar freezes at -2 to -3 Celsius. When exposed to outflow winds, hummingbird feeders can freeze up in as little as a few minutes. This has prompted many British Columbians to get creative in keeping their feeders thawed and their pet hummers alive. Social media is filled with people and “their” hummingbirds, as well as the contraptions they’ve created to keep the nectar flowing.

Those who don’t want to shell out the money for a feeder heater get creative, flexing their MacGyver skills to find all kinds of ways to keep the nectar flowing. People can get quite inventive, utilizing household items, including but not limited to: bubble wrap, hand warmers, Christmas lights, heat lamps, work lights, wax warmers, socks, pop cans, soup cans, and night lights. Some even construct little boxes for the feeder to hang in out of the wind.

Then there are those who simple rotate multiple feeders. From dawn until dusk, feeders are rotated in and out, then brought in at night and put out again just before dawn. Hummingbirds go into a state of torpor at night, similar to hibernation, and when they wake again, they need to feed. This means getting up in the early hours to make sure the feeder is out and ready when your little guy wakes up for the day.

Many people report that their little hummers disappear early in the new year. This is likely because the Anna’s are early nesters. Tough as nails, these little ones will nest as early as December, through until June. Their clutch size is just two eggs, and their nests are no wider than a two-dollar coin. After that, one might find them showing up again in the garden in July, sipping on bright flowers and chasing off competitors.

Hummingbird Care Guidelines:

IF YOU CAN’T FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES, DO NOT PUT OUT A FEEDER.

Do use a 1:4 ratio of white sugar and water. (1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water). Ensure that the sugar is fully dissolved in boiled water and the nectar mixture is cooled before putting out the feeder.

Do not add anything to the nectar (ie. food dye, honey, etc).

Do not change the nectar ratio during cold snaps. Use 1:4 ratio of white sugar and water only.

Do empty and thoroughly clean your feeder every three days, ensuring that it’s rinsed properly and no soap or other residue remains. Dirty feeders kill hummingbirds through mold and disease.

Note: If you are rigging up your own heating device for your feeder, modern LED bulbs do not give off heat. Use only older style bulbs that give off heat and be mindful of fire hazards when using them.