Strategies for turning your yard into a hummingbird haven

Hummingbirds seem like supernatural creatures from an enchanted realm that have somehow been trans- ported into the everyday world. Typically weighing less than a regular marshmallow, the tiny birds can buzz through the air at astonish- ing speeds (the Anna’s hummingbird has been clocked at speeds of about 50 mph), fly backward and turn on a dime.

It’s no wonder people are eager to draw them to their yards. A group of them, appropriately, is called a charm.

To regularly see the petite winged wonders while they’re in the region, you need to transform your garden into a hummingbird haven. We spoke with three experts about how to create an enchanting environment that will draw humming- birds to your yard, includ- ing how to feed them and what to plant. Here are their suggestions:

Go flower forward

Hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar from a variety of flowers. They work as natural pollinators as they move between blossoms, so the more flora, the better. Emma Greig, project leader of Project Feed- erWatch with the Cornell

Lab of Ornithology, recom- mends bee balm (Monarda), cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) and hanging baskets of fuchsia. John Rowden, senior director of bird-friendly communities with the National Audubon Society, suggests planting trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera semper- virens), eastern red colum- bine (Aquilegia canadensis) and some species of milk- weed, including swamp milkweed (Asclepias incar- nata) and common milk- weed (A. syriaca).

Don’t forget trees shrubs

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Hummingbirds like to nest and roost in spots that are protected, secluded and not too close to the ground, so trees and shrubs are critical. The birds use bits of lichen, plant downs and fibers, twigs, and spiderwebs to create cuplike nests that they attach to branches. These larger plants also attract a bounty of insect life, an important source of protein for hummingbirds.

Embrace native plants

“Nat ive flowers o ften attract native insects, which promote native birds,” Greig says. Not sure what to plant? Audubon has a Native Plants Database where people can search by ZIP code to determine which hummingbird-friendly plants will grow in their area and where to buy them.

Nix pesticides

“Pesticides are the number one threat to hummingbirds,” says Sheri L. William- son, author of “A Peterson Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America.” “There have been some recent studies which have found alarming levels of pesticides in hummingbird urine and feces. Pesticides can interrupt migratory instincts and cause the birds to lose weight.”

Additionally, these toxic substances can kill off the insects they rely on for food, as well as spiders, whose webs are a key building material for their nests.

Give the little guys a big sugar rush

Hummingbirds love nectar. In addition to planting lots of flowers, gardeners can make a simple substitute by mixing 4 parts boiling water with 1 part sugar. Let the sweet solution cool before putting it in the feeder.

“We don’t recommend adding anything else, such as food coloring, vitamins or other extra doodads you can buy,” Greig says. “Most are totally unnecessary. There [are] no studies showing they are beneficial, and they may be harmful.”