Month: January 2009

Categories
Dear Mom

Hummingbird Quote

The following comes from the a site called Famous Quotes.  The quote really spoke to my heart and gave me a reminder that life is too short to only look at the past and that I need to focus on the here and now and not just  the future.  With the hectic and busy lives we all lead, I’m sure others could also use the reminder as well.  Hope you enjoy the quote.

Hummingbird shows us how to re-visit the past for the purpose of releasing it instead of being caught in a permanently backward flight pattern. It also helps us to see that if we step aside we may see our life differently. Hummingbird teaches us to transcend time, to recognize that what has happened in the past and what might happen in the future is not nearly as important as what we are experiencing now. It teaches us to hover in the moment, to appreciate its sweetness.

Constance Barrett Sohodski Quotes

Categories
Hummingbird Feeders

In Cold Climates Remove Perches

According to the Kern River Preserve in in southern California, if you live in a very cold climate it is recommend that the perches be removed from your hummingbird feeders in the winter.  Doing so will help ensure that hummingbirds keep their metabolism up while feeding in the cold temperatures. It is possible for a hummingbird to get too cold and die while perched in the winter.

The site unfortunately does not define the phase "a very cold climate." I will have to leave that determination individually up to those of you who live wherever the temperatures are extremely cold.  My personal advice would be to use your best personal judgement on the matter, after all no one who is a hummingbird enthusiast would wish to do any harm to these amazing birds.  

The Crimson Topaz Hummingbird

The Crimson Topaz Hummingbird is the largest hummingbird of Brazil and in the Andes only the Gaint Hummingbird is larger.  The Crimson Topaz Hummingbird is difficult to view and photogtaph because this hummingbird is usually found 150 above the ground in the rainforest.

The male of this species has highly distinctive tail feathers because they cross halfway down. The male’s throat patch is golden-yellow in color and the bird has an iridescent red underside.

Names for a Group of Hummingbirds

Have you ever seen a group of hummingbirds together and wondered if there was a name for such a gathering of  these birds.  Well, it seems that there are several names for a group of hummingbirds.  These names include the following:  a "bouquet", "glittering", "hover", "shimmer", and "tune" of hummingbirds.

Who knew that there were so many different names for a group of hummingbirds.  It makes me wonder how many birds it takes to make up a group of hummingbirds?  Unfortunately, in my research for today’s post, I was unable to discover the answer to this question.  If anyone out there knows the answer, please share it with us.

Avoid Illness or Injury to Hummingbirds

As a hummingbird enthusiast there are some things that you can do to help avoid contributing to the injury or illness of a hummingbird.  The information listed below is intended to serve as a reminder, because no one would wish to harm the hummingbird.

  • The hummingbird feeder must be kept clean at all times!  The build-up of mold or bacteria can be extemely harmful to the hummingbirds.
  • Be sure to change your nectar solution frequenly to prevent it from spoiling.
  • When making your own nectar solution, use only granulated white sugar and not red food coloring, honey, or artificial sweetners.
  • Never use pesticides in your garden, as these things can be injested by the hummingbird and cause harm.
  • If you use an ant trap with your feeder, fill it with only water.
  • Petroleum jelly, tangle foot type products, or cooking oil should never be used as a method to try and prevent common problems with insects.  These things can get on the hummingbird’s beak or feathers and cause problems for the bird.