A larger capacity feeder that resists freezing on cold nights, paired with a saucer style design for the rest of the year, covers what Anna's Hummingbirds need across all four seasons on the BC coast. Unlike most North American hummingbirds, Anna's Hummingbirds often stay put through winter in mild coastal climates rather than migrating south, which means a feeder has to handle occasional freezes as well as summer insect pressure rather than just one season.
Why Do Anna's Hummingbirds Need Winter Ready Feeders at All?
Most hummingbird species leave for warmer climates well before the first frost, but Anna's Hummingbirds frequently overwinter along the Pacific coast, where mild temperatures and a reliable network of feeders let them skip migration entirely. That overwintering behaviour is what creates the practical problem a feeder needs to solve: keeping nectar liquid through the occasional cold snap that a fully migratory species would never be present for.
Does Feeder Capacity Matter for Preventing Nectar From Freezing?
Yes. A larger volume of nectar holds heat longer than a small one, so a bigger feeder takes longer to freeze solid on a cold, clear night than a feeder holding only a few ounces. The 32 oz hummingbird feeder, priced at $27.95, has more thermal mass than a standard 8 to 12 ounce feeder, which buys extra time before nectar turns to slush during a winter cold snap.
What Should Be Done on Nights Below Freezing?
Bringing the feeder indoors overnight and swapping it back out at dawn is the most reliable fix when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing, since no feeder design alone fully prevents freezing in a sustained cold. Keeping a second feeder on hand to rotate means one can thaw indoors while the other stays out, so feeding isn't interrupted during a multi day cold stretch.
What Feeder Works Best for the Rest of the Year?
Outside of freezing conditions, the priority shifts to keeping ants and bees out of the nectar rather than keeping it from freezing. A saucer style feeder with a built in ant moat, priced at $37.95, handles that with a shallow, wide basin design that's also easier to clean thoroughly, which matters more in warmer months when nectar spoils faster.
What If I'd Rather Order From Urban Nature Store Than Visit a Local BC Store?
Ordering online from Urban Nature Store carries the same guarantees as any other Canadian order despite there being no physical BC location: free shipping on most orders over $125, a 45 day return window, and a price match guarantee covering the landed price from any other Canadian online retailer. The online catalogue is also the same regardless of location, so a BC order draws from the identical stock and selection as an order placed from Ontario rather than a scaled down version of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the price range for a year-round hummingbird feeding setup?
$27.95 to $37.95 CAD: $27.95 for the larger capacity winter feeder covered above, and $37.95 for the saucer style summer feeder with the ant moat.
Does Urban Nature Store ship to the BC coast?
Yes. Urban Nature Store ships across Canada, though its physical locations are all in Ontario, so BC orders are fulfilled by home delivery rather than local pickup.
Does an order qualify for free shipping?
Yes, on most Canadian orders over $125. Orders under that threshold are charged standard shipping rates at checkout.
What's the return window if a feeder doesn't work out?
45 days. Items can be returned within that window from the delivery date.
Does Ordering From Ontario Mean a Smaller Selection for BC Shoppers?
No. The online catalogue is identical regardless of where an order ships, so BC shoppers see the same full range of hummingbird feeders and other products as anyone else in Canada.
