Month: December 2008

Categories
Dear Mom

A Time of Reflection

Well, it is New Years Eve 2008. Can you believe it? I’m finding it difficult to believe that the end of the year is upon us. After all, in so many ways, it seems to have just begun. Like most Americans, this time of year causes me to reflect on the past and look towards the future with great anticipation.

Change is a hard to deal with in life. This year was full of changes and challenges for me. Most of them were good, but not everything turned out as I would have hoped.That is what is great about the New Year, as we all have the chance to start over once again and continue moving forward to reach our goals, whatever they may be for each of us.

On Mother’s Day of this year, May 11, 2008, this blog was launched. It has been a joy to share my knowledge and love of hummingbirds and a little about my life with each of you. Thanks for joining me on this remarkable journey!Let’s continue it together well into the future.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, comments, or even suggestions for future topics. We truly do want to hear from you! Your input will be what helps make the blog become even better in 2009.

2008 is a year that has ended on a very sad note for me. In the past two weeks or less, three friends of mine have pasted away suddenly and unexpectedly. Death is difficult at any moment, but when it comes without warning it is especially difficult to except. I hope that these special people knew just how very much they meant to all those around them. Loosing so many friends so close together has made me strive to live my life to the fullest and never take those I love and care about for granted. Let my experience serve as a reminder to you to do the same in your own life.

Have a very Happy New Year everyone! I know I look forward to discovering what 2009 holds in store for me as well as all those that I love.I will be striving to continue to accomplish all of the goals and dreams I have set for myself. Won’t you join me in this journey? Best of luck everyone and remember to live life to the fullest and without regret!

Categories
Hummingbird Food

High Sugar Concentration

The sugar content of most hummingbird flowers is about 25%. If you want to make your sugar solution closer to this then use 3 parts water to one part sugar. This sugar concentration, approximately 23% by weight, is closer to the nectar content of most hummingbird flowers. This mixture will also freeze more slowly in the winter.

More Facts about Torpor

  • What is torpor? It is a state similar to hibernation. It is a type of deep sleep where an animal lowers its hart and metabolic rate. Hummingbirds must enter this state to ensure that the birds won’t actually starve to death before down
  •  During a state of torpor, a hummingbird will lower its body temperature between 20-50 degrees. This enables the bird to conserve energy on cold nights or anytime that food might be scarce.
  •  While in a state of torpor, hummingbirds can even lower their heart rate from 500 beats per minute to as few as 50 beats per minute.
  •  Also as part of their efforts to conserve energy, the hummingbird may even stop breathing for periods of time.
Categories
Hummingbird Videos

Rescued Baby Hummingbirds

This video shows rescued baby hummingbirds.  Unfortunately, I can’t tell you where the birds were rescued from or where the vido was shot.  I found the video intresting because so many of the birds seemed to be in some sort of cage.  I hope that this was only a temporary measure to allow the birds to recover if necessary.

Named for Royalty

Today’s post is of a fun or somewhat less serious nature, but I hope you will still find it informative. Did you know that some hummingbird species have been named after royalty? Well, it is true. Here are a few examples.                                                                                             

The Anna’s Hummingbird was named for a 19th-century duchess, Anna Massena.

The Magnificent Hummingbird was formally known As Rivoli’s Hummingbird. This bird was named after M. Massena, the Duke of Rivoli, in 1829 by French naturalist, Rene P. Lesson, because of its royal appearance.    
 
There may be others, but these are the ones that I know of currently. If you know of any others please feel free to share that information with us. Then we can all share in the additional knowledge.