If you are fortunate to have hummingbirds nearby, you know they are some of the most fascinating birds to observe. Enjoying the sounds of wind chimes and watching birds are among the highlights of being outside on a pleasant day. There are stunning hummingbird feeders that merge these two experiences. However, before purchasing these combination feeders and chimes, it’s crucial to understand their practicality. While aesthetically pleasing, they may not be effective. Some wind chime materials can be too loud and deter hummingbirds, turning your feeder into a repellent. Here’s what you need to know to ensure your lawn décor doesn’t prevent hummingbirds from visiting your yard.
Hummingbirds have ears that are essentially holes lightly covered by feathers, making their hearing sensitive. While the gentle tinkling of a wind chime might be soothing to you, excessive noise can scare hummingbirds away. Even if the chime serves as a feeder or has other attractive features, loud sounds will deter them. Metal pipes, cans, and tools can be particularly noisy as wind chime materials, and larger items tend to produce more sound. Now that you know what to avoid, you can focus on finding the best alternatives to wind chime hummingbird feeders for your garden.
What to look for in a hummingbird feeder and recommendations
To attract hummingbirds, a quiet garden is ideal. Loud environments will scare away potential visitors and keep them from approaching your feeder. Place your feeder in the quietest part of your garden and ensure it is appealing to hummingbirds. Red is a color that attracts them, so choosing a feeder with plenty of red in its design is important. Hummingbirds are also drawn to shimmering colors, so materials like glass that sparkle in the sunlight are excellent choices. Provide nearby perching spots, if not on the feeder itself, and keep your feeder clean and filled with nectar.
While traditional wind chime feeders may not be suitable for hummingbirds, there are wind chime-style feeders that offer the visual appeal without the noise. For instance, the Charming Wind Chimes Hummingbird Feeder for Outdoors Hanging has the elegance of a wind chime but does not produce sounds that could scare the birds. Made of glass baubles that don’t collide, each contains nectar and has an opening for hummingbirds to feed. With a 4.6-star rating, numerous reviews highlight its success in attracting hummingbirds, often accompanied by photos of the birds at the feeders.
Relaxing yard sounds that will not scare hummingbirds
There are various ways to introduce relaxing sounds to your garden without alarming hummingbirds. If you wish to include a wind chime, try positioning it as far from your hummingbird feeder as possible to minimize noise. However, it might still discourage them from visiting. A better alternative is incorporating a fountain or other water feature that produces a gentle sound. Adding an outdoor water feature to your landscape offers several benefits. Besides providing a calming ambiance, the sound of running water can also attract hummingbirds.
Wind chimes can produce delightful sounds, but they are generally too loud for hummingbirds. You can achieve the same aesthetic in your yard with wind chime-style hummingbird feeders, but it’s best to avoid genuine wind chimes. Instead, opt for bright, shimmering colors like red and consider softer, relaxing sounds that attract birds, such as the gentle trickle of water features. For those struggling to attract hummingbirds despite no loud distractions, exploring the 10 best hummingbird feeders can help welcome more feathered friends to your garden.
