How to draw a hummingbird to your Delaware home: Here's what to know

Like many notable things, hummingbirds have found their way into pop culture. The latest reference is country singer Carly Pearce whose upcoming album "Hummingbird" drops June 14.

Before her album is released, Delaware residents can learn how to make their house the coolest on the block by becoming a magnet for migrating hummingbirds this spring.

Here's what you need to know to attract these majestic birds, potential predators, and why Pearce's new album is tied to these fluttering cuties:

When should I set out feeders for hummingbirds?

An ideal time for Delawareans to set up, freshen up and clean your birdfeeders for hummingbirds is in late April, according to a report by Geoff LeBaron, Christmas Bird Count director for the National Audubon Society. 

What do I put in my bird feeder?

The only food/nectar you need in your bird feeder is sugar and water. But make sure it's white sugar (not brown). And the ratio between water to sugar should be 4:1, Doug Tallamy, professor of agriculture and natural resources in the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware, told us last spring.

Bird lovers hoping to attract hummingbirds should never use any other sweeteners, honey or other substances, LeBaron said.

"Those may contain things that can harm hummingbirds, and the sugar water as outlined here is an accurate mimic of natural flower nectar," LeBaron said.

Where should I put my hummingbird feeder?

Hanging feeders under a tree with shade or under a porch is ideal for hummingbirds so they don't want to get burnt to a crisp in the summer. 

If you have a window surrounded by a shady area, that'll also give you a cool view of the birds, Tallamy said.

How can I attract more hummingbirds?

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only breeding species east of the Rocky Mountains, which is the hummingbird you'll most likely see in Delaware, LeBaron said. 

But hummingbirds aren't gonna stick around your yard just for a drink of sweet water. These creatures are really looking for the plants that feed them, as well as insects.  

Ninety percent of their diet is from protein, mostly tiny insects. 

Red flowers are attractive to the birds, said Matt Del Pizzo of Port Penn, past president of the Delaware Audubon Society, previously.

Other plants that hummingbirds enjoy include jewelweed, native oak trees, goldenrods and columbine. 

"They want to breed, so they're looking for places that are going to have enough food where they can rear their young," Tallamy said. 

How long will hummingbirds be in Delaware?

Fall migration of hummingbirds will probably extend through October in Delaware. Leaving your feeder out longer can help to attract more birds, LeBaron said.

The year is still young, and now is a good time to start preparing for these little flappers.

Hummingbird predators

While you might see the hummingbird as harmless and adorable, these birds have enemies that view them as a snack.

Bird consultant Sharon Stiteler, also known as the "Birdchick," wrote a report for the National Audubon Society that identified creatures that might want the hummingbird for lunch such as dragonflies, frogs, and orb-weaver spiders (since hummingbirds steal silk from spiders to make their own nests, and the birds can get caught in webs that spiders use as nets for prey).

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Many sources, including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, have reported that small and fast predatory birds also prey on hummingbirds like "Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlins, Mississippi Kites, and Loggerhead Shrikes can target hummers," Stiteler added.

Hummingbird Carly Pearce

Popular music artists over the years have been inspired to write songs that used the hummingbird for a title, from the alternative-rock band Wilco ("Hummingbird") to the pop star Katy Perry ("Hummingbird Heartbeat").

Carly Pearce is next up with her new album "Hummingbird" that she’ll release on June 14. She released a music video for the titular song on YouTube last week.

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Pearce described the album "Hummingbird” as the following:

"When you hear this album — Wherever you are on your journey, I hope it shows you that pain can be a lesson that shows you just how strong you are and what you truly deserve. That we can all find the 'hummingbird' in the midst of whatever we’re going through."

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at [email protected]. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters. 

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Hummingbird season is near Delaware, inspires new Carly Pearce album