Few things feel more magical in a Routt County summer than the sharp hum of wings and the flash of iridescent green darting past your flowers. Hummingbirds may be small, but they bring enormous energy to our mountain landscapes.

If you’d like to welcome more of them into your yard, creating a hummingbird haven is simpler than you might think. Focus on five essentials: nectar, water, shelter, safety, and certification.

Provide Plenty of Natural Nectar

The best way to support hummingbirds is with living flowers. Native, nectar-rich plants provide far more than sugar, they offer nutrients and attract the insects hummingbirds also rely on for protein.

In Northwest Colorado, consider planting Rocky Mountain penstemon, scarlet gilia, bee balm, columbine, and red-flowering currant. Choose bright tubular blooms in reds, pinks, and purples, and plant in clusters so birds can feed efficiently. Aim for continuous blooms from late spring through early fall to support them throughout migration season.

Feeders can supplement, but flowers should do the heavy lifting.

Provide a Fresh Water Source

Hummingbirds don’t typically splash in bird baths like robins do. They prefer moving water, fine misters, drippers, or shallow fountains where they can fly through droplets.

If you use a traditional bird bath, keep it shallow and clean. Refresh water frequently in our dry climate, especially during hot July afternoons. Even a simple drip system over a rock can become a hummingbird favorite.

Create a Sheltering Sanctuary

Hummingbirds need safe places to rest and nest. Small trees, dense shrubs, and layered plantings provide protection from predators and unpredictable mountain weather.

Leave some natural structure in your yard. Shrubs like serviceberry offer both cover and food. Even small deciduous trees can serve as lookout posts where hummingbirds perch between feedings.

Resist the urge to make everything overly tidy. A little wildness provides critical refuge.

Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides

Hummingbirds depend on insects for essential protein, especially when feeding young. Spraying for insects reduces a vital food source and can expose birds to harmful chemicals.

Instead, encourage a healthy ecosystem. Native plants support beneficial insects, which in turn support birds. A balanced yard is far more resilient than a chemically managed one.

Make It Official

If you’re ready to take it a step further, consider becoming certified through the International Hummingbird Society’s Certified Hummingbird Haven program. Certification recognizes yards that provide proper nectar sources, water, shelter, and chemical-free habitat. It’s a meaningful way to show your commitment to pollinator stewardship and habitat conservation.

In Routt County, where wildlife is part of our daily lives, even small actions in our own yards matter. A few intentional plant choices, fresh water, and a pesticide-free approach can transform your space into a hummingbird sanctuary.

And once they find you, they’ll return year after year. Tiny ambassadors of wildness, humming at your window.

Sarah Storm is a Routt County Master Gardener and environmental educator who enjoys helping local gardeners create landscapes that support pollinators, birds, and healthy ecosystems in Northwest Colorado.

Have gardening questions? The CSU Routt County Extension Office and Master Gardener help desk are ready to help. Stop by Thursdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., May through September. Call (970) 879-0825 or email rcextension@co.routt.co.us.