These are the top ten things you can do to attract and keep hummingbirds in your yard.

1. Purchase an easy to use, quality nectar feeder.
2. Know when hummingbirds arrive in your area and have your feeders out at or before their arrival.
3. Plant flowers in your yard.

               Generally, brightly-colored flowers that are tubular hold the most nectar. If native flowers don't bloom before hummingbirds arrive in your area, consider buying some hanging baskets or ready to go potted flowers from a nursery.

                 Here are some good choices – Petunias, Super Bells, Salvia, Cardinal Flower, Butterfly Bush, Columbine, Bee Balm, Zinnia, Trumpet Vine, Bleeding Hearts, Lupine, Morning Glory, Lantana, Hollyhocks, and Honeysuckle.

4. Place your feeder in and around flowers. A small shepherds hook in a flower pot or your garden works great!
5. Change the nectar often. A minimum of twice a week and every other day during hot weather. This is very important.
6. If possible keep the feeder out of the sun as much as possible. Purchase a shade guard if you are placing it in full sun.
7. In addition to a nectar feeder, add an insect feeder.
8. If your Feeder doesn't have one, use an ant moat to keep ants out.
9. Hummingbirds spend 80% of their time perching so offer a perch or hummingbird swing near food sources.
10. Offer nesting material.  Other birds will benefit from this as well.