If Hummingbirds Are Avoiding Your Yard, You Might Be Guilty Of One Simple Mistake

Have you been setting up your backyard, turning it into a verified five-star buffet for birds, but hummingbirds keep flying past? Yeah, that sucks. But it turns out that there is a factor you may not have considered when making your garden as hummingbird friendly as you have: simply that your set up is a bit noisy or even visually chaotic. Being prey animals, hummingbirds are naturally skittish and will avoid locations that feel loud or unpredictable. Instead, they prefer calm and quiet, so if your garden is filled with moving parts and loud noises, they may be flying past looking for a more peaceful place to stop.

It could be anything that is deterring them from sticking around, including a barking dog or a noisy AC unit. Even that wind chime hummingbird feeder that sounds delightful to us, may not be very practical. Hummingbirds are jumpy little creatures, which comes with the territory of being prey animals. So, if your home is situated in a loud neighborhood or a high-traffic area, it may not be a suitable stopping ground for the birds. But the good news is we have a few ways to help make your garden feel more peaceful for these birds, even if you cannot control outside forces like traffic.

Place your feeder in the quietest part of the yard, ideally near shrubs or a tree for hummingbirds to perch on. This is important if your yard is active with kids or pets roaming around. In this case, try creating a dedicated area sectioned off by hedges or shrubbery that work to muffle external noises. And when you are near that area, speak softly and do not play loud music. Make sure your feeder is nice and clean with no strange smells lingering, as these birds are sensitive to scent. 

If your feeder is clean and your backyard is quiet, but you still cannot entice hummingbirds to stop by, there are extra steps you can take. A bright feeder would help, but you can also add flowers that attract hummingbirds. These birds love blooms in shades of orange, red, and pink; so, think honeysuckle, snapdragon, and bird-of-paradise. Just keep them planted near your quiet area so the whole setup feels safe.

Finally, do not just hang your feeder in any place there's a hook. Think about how high to hang your hummingbird feeder. A feeder that is too low will make them feel vulnerable to predators. If it is too high, you may forget about it yourself and not refill it. Somewhere about six feet off the ground is perfect for hummingbirds. By calming your whole environment down and creating a space that feels undisturbed and inviting, you will be giving hummingbirds exactly what they are looking for — a safe spot to rest for a while.