Help Hummingbirds Prepare for Fall Migration

It’s September, and that means hummingbirds are preparing to migrate to warmer climates for the winter.

These tiny creatures need lots of energy to make this trip. You can help by providing feeders for them to visit as they pass your way.

Adam Rohnke, an MSU Extension wildlife biologist, gives you a few tips on providing homemade hummingbird feed.

Video by Jonathan Parrish

Note: Refined, white sugar is the best sweetener for homemade nectar. Honey contains fungus that could be dangerous. The iron levels in organic, natural and raw sugars can be harmful, according to the National Audubon Society.

If you want to increase visits by hummingbirds throughout the spring and summer, consider adding some of their favorite flowers, shrubs and trees to your landscape. Food is just one of their basic needs. Give them even more reason to visit you by providing plenty of water, shelter and nesting space.