SEATTLE — With a cold snap underway in the Puget Sound region, some are wondering how to protect our flittering best friends – hummingbirds.
Temperatures are forecasted to dip into the teens overnight and remain below freezing until Monday across western Washington.
Anna’s Hummingbird has expanded its region in recent decades and is present year-round in the Seattle area. They can reduce body temperature at night and conserve energy, according to Birds Connect Seattle. However, they need a lot of energy during the day and may rely on feeders in addition to native food sources to make it through colder days.
Hummingbird feeders will likely freeze in these cold temperatures unless certain precautions are taken.
Here are some things to keep in mind.
Sugar water feeding ratio for hummingbirds in winter
Birding experts recommend keeping the sugar ratio the same in wintertime: Four parts water to one part white sugar. Don’t use brown sugar, honey or molasses in your solution as these contain additional ingredients that can be detrimental to hummingbirds.
In wintertime, feeders should be cleaned weekly with hot tap water or a vinegar solution.
How to keep your hummingbird feeder from freezing
The sugar helps the water have a lower freezing point – about 29 degrees, according to Birds Connect Seattle.
However, the National Audubon Society recommends avoiding giving the hummingbirds very cold water, as this can stun them. Bring the water up to room temperature before putting it outdoors.
Here are several ways to prevent the feeders from freezing or getting too cold:
- Bring feeders indoors overnight and put them out first thing in the morning (Hummingbirds are active at dawn.)
- Rotate feeders throughout the day.
- Hang an incandescent lightbulb near the feeder to warm it.
- Wrap the feeder in incandescent Christmas lights.
- Attach a hand warmer to the feeder.
- Attach plumber’s heat tape to the feeder.
Where do hummingbirds sleep?
Hummingbirds roost in trees and shrubs at night. They do not use nest boxes or bird houses, according to Birds Connect Seattle.
During this time, hummingbirds enter a torpid state, which is a hibernation-like state where their heart, respiration and metabolic rate approaches zero. This can help them conserve energy below what they need during the day.