Hummingbirds appreciate the nutrients feeders provide during the winter months. (Lynne Brookes-Grimmer)

By Jordan Davidson

help your flying friends

Cold snap leading to innovative solutions to keep hummingbird feeders accessible

Dec 30, 2021 | 3:26 PM

NANAIMO — While the cold and snow can make things difficult for people on the Island, local wildlife is also making some adjustments.

Hummingbirds, particularly the Anna’s variety, are common in our area, but as tough as they might be, they need some help dealing with the latest cold snap.

Derek Downes, an animal care supervisor at the North Island Recovery Centre, said our local hummingbird populations are a hearty bunch.

“Typically the Island has a very temperate climate even throughout the winters. What they do is go into a state of torpor in the evening hours, which is basically a similar state to hibernation and that’s how they can beat the cold temperatures.”

He said due to their extremely high metabolism rate, once they awake from their sleep state they need to feed as soon as possible.

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While the snow and ice might cause a typical hummingbird feeder to freeze up, local residents have taken to finding inventive ways to make sure the birds can access the sugar water.

“The easiest best way, but it’s the most labour-intensive, is to constantly change out the water and keeping a close eye on it. Some people have two different hummingbird features ready to go and cycle them out.”

Others have taken to insulating the feeder to keep water temperatures above freezing.

There are a number of ways to keep your feeder from freezing over, including wrapping them in light insulation and using low-wattage light bulbs. (Lynne Brookes-Grimmer)

“You can make little wool sock insulators for the top, you can get light insulation from the hardware store and create little socks that go over the top of it. You can use bubble wrap, you can wrap Christmas lights around them.”

Christmas lights and other, low-wattage 7-10 watt outdoor lights usually have enough energy to keep the solution in liquid form without melting the plastic feeder.

He said it’s also vital to make sure the feeding tubs are not frozen with ice.

While a hummingbird’s diet consists of small insects and larva, winter weather can make them difficult to find, which is why feeders are critical to their survival during colder weather.

“(The morning) is such a vital time for them. Their metabolism is just so so high, and going into torpor is their way of combating the cold, but when they come out of that state they need to feed, they need calories, and that’s where we can come in and help.”

Dawn and dusk are the most common times for hummingbirds to feed, according to Downes, with a 4-1 water to sugar ratio ideal to keep them fed properly.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow