• Sign Up
    • Yearly by Check
    • Monthly Recurring
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Account
  • Log In
The Hendersonian
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Business
    • Local
    • Police
    • Politics
    • Schools
    • Science
    • Sports
    • State
    • World

    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Trending Tags

  • Tech
    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

    Trending Tags

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Henderson joins West Kentucky Film Commission with hopes of luring movie makers here

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

    Hospital CAO: Deaconess Henderson will not close

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    Trending Tags

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Business
    • Local
    • Police
    • Politics
    • Schools
    • Science
    • Sports
    • State
    • World

    Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

    Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Wind turbine ordinance, which would be the first in Kentucky, is key to what ultimately occurs in Cordelio project

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Macy talks socks,1978 UK champs and more during author visit to promote his book

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Alliance dedicates new Henderson County Mine

    Trending Tags

  • Tech
    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

    Trending Tags

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    2025 Handy Fest photo gallery

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Gritty Lady Cols advance to Final 4

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    Summer blockbusters finally arrive in June

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    A former Japanese tennis star champions Henderson County athletes

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Stanley hopes his exhibition is a reminder ‘to be open to joyfulness…from whatever ridiculous source it may come’

    Henderson joins West Kentucky Film Commission with hopes of luring movie makers here

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
    Grants available from Deaconess Henderson Hospital Community Program Fund

    Hospital CAO: Deaconess Henderson will not close

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Enjoy the fresh taste of summer

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Regional collaborative assists those suffering from mental health challenges with online resources

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Plenty of baseball to watch without stepping into a big league stadium

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    Matthew 25 cuts the ribbon on new mobile sexual health unit

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    Trending Tags

No Result
View All Result
The Hendersonian
No Result
View All Result
Home Outdoors

Hummingbird season best tips

Vince Tweddell by Vince Tweddell
February 11, 2025
in Outdoors
0
Hummingbird season best tips
0
SHARES
12
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

(Published in print June 28, 2023)

Some say ¼ cup of sugar to a cup of water.

Some say ½ cup of sugar to a cup of water.

Still some say the sweeter, the better–a cup of sugar to a cup of water.

Summer has come, hummingbirds are dive-bombing in your backyard, and the debate is on about the best ways to attract them. Andy Rideout, extension agent for horticulture at the UK Henderson County

Extension Office, recently spoke with the Hendersonian to offer the best tips to quell any disagreements.

Rideout said sweeter is not necessarily better.

“Anything more than half a cup, you’re really wasting sugar at that point,” he said.

Rideout said the ideal mix is ¼ cup of sugar to 1 cup of water. If you want someting stiffer,  a ½ cup of sugar mix can work, but don’t go more than that.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website, there are more than 360 species of hummingbirds in the world—all in the western hemisphere. In the eastern part of the United States, and in Henderson County, only one hummingbird species exists, the ruby-throated hummingbird, according to the website.

Their wings flap 50 times per second and their hearts beat 1,200 times per minute. To fuel their small, hard-working bodies, they eat nectar from flowers.

Rideout said that finding a feeder that most resembles flowers is another tip to bring more hummingbirds to your backyard. He said coloring the sugar water red, a common practice, does nothing to attract hummingbirds. And the dyes in the water can hurt hummingbirds, he said.

Hummingbirds instinctually remember where they’ve been and fed before, so if you’ve put out a feeder for years—and kept it full—then there’s a good chance the hummingbirds that have fed in your yard in the past will return, Rideout said.

Part of the draw for hummingbird enthusiasts is the bird’s personality. Rideout said—just like people—hummingbirds have attitude, especially when it comes to feeding. If several hummingbirds regularly come to your yard to feed, most likely you’ll witness some aerial battles full of amazing tactical maneuvers as they squabble over food. To break up those fights, put two or three feeders out, Rideout said.

A final piece of advice—and one Rideout has received angry letters about—is to grease the pole on which you hang your feeder with Vaseline. The purpose is to keep the ants away.

Readers reminded Rideout that Vaseline is oil-based and detrimental to the birds’ health. But he’s still confident about greasing only the bottom two inches of the pole because the birds won’t encounter it there.

Previous Post

Armadillos on the move

Next Post

Minton, longtime Aububon supporter, celebrates 100th

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell

Vince Tweddell is the founder, publisher and editor of the Hendersonian.

Next Post
Minton, longtime Aububon supporter, celebrates 100th

Minton, longtime Aububon supporter, celebrates 100th

Recent News

Deaconess Henderson Hospital Advisory Board gives $70,000 to local nonprofits

June 21, 2025

Chill out at the Friends of the Library membership meeting July 12

June 21, 2025
Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

Two new honorees added to Juneteenth’s impact sign display

June 21, 2025
Henderson civic, industry leader Joel Hopper dies

Henderson civic, industry leader Joel Hopper dies

June 21, 2025
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Account
  • Log In

© 2025 The Hendersonian • Henderson, KY 42420

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Login

© 2025 The Hendersonian • Henderson, KY 42420