Hummingbirds are Making Their Annual Migration Tips for Attracting Them to Your Garden

Ruby-throated hummingbirds have begun arriving in the Northeast, including the Hudson Valley, as part of their spring migration. By late May, they are typically established throughout the region, including Rockland and Bergen counties. These remarkable birds migrate each spring from Central America and southern Mexico, with early arrivals often beginning in mid-to-late April and increasing steadily as the season progresses. Males often arrive one to two weeks before females as they establish feeding territories.

For homeowners looking to attract these beautiful birds to their gardens, Down to Earth Living in Pomona offers a wide selection of hummingbird-friendly plants and expert advice for gardeners.

Down to Earth offers these tips to attract hummingbirds to your garden:

Plant nectar-rich, native blooms such as:

• Bee Balm
• Columbine
• Cardinal Flower
• Coral Bells (recommended by the Audubon Society and other birding experts)
• Salvia
• Trumpet Vine
• Jewelweed

Hummingbirds are especially drawn to bright, tubular flowers, particularly in shades of red, orange, and pink. Incorporating native plants helps support hummingbirds while also benefiting local ecosystems and other pollinators.

Additional ways to invite hummingbirds into your garden:

• Use a simple feeder solution: 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water. No red dye is needed.
• Provide perches and shelter with native shrubs or small trees, which also support the small insects hummingbirds rely on for protein.
• Offer a water source such as a mister or shallow fountain for bathing.
• Avoid pesticides, which can reduce the small insects hummingbirds rely on for protein.

Attracting hummingbirds has additional benefits beyond their beauty:

• Pollination: Hummingbirds help native plants reproduce as they feed, making them valuable pollinators.
• Pest Control: They eat small insects like aphids and gnats, offering natural pest management.
• Biodiversity: Gardens that attract hummingbirds also support other pollinators and wildlife.
• Educational & Wellness Value: Observing these birds promotes appreciation for nature and has been linked to stress relief and mental well-being.

Hummingbirds migrate individually and rely on consistent food sources along their journey. By creating a welcoming habitat with nectar plants, water, and shelter, homeowners can support them throughout the breeding season, which typically runs from spring through early fall in the region.

Follow these tips and you’re likely to spot hummingbirds in your yard this season. Find everything you need at Down to Earth Living to welcome them and keep your garden blooming all season long.

Down to Earth’s expanded indoor plant showroom is now open for the spring season. They are currently offering free repotting when you purchase a plant and or a pot at the store.