The exact length of a hummingbird’s migratory journey will depend on the specific species of hummingbird to which you are referring. This journey is not without danger. The hazards that the hummingbird may face during the migratory journey include: shortages of food long their journey, unusual or unexpected predators, being without shelter when bad weather strikes, and even windows which hummingbirds often run into.
Month: July 2009
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Happy Independence Day
July 4th marks the anniversary of American independence. It is also the day that would have marked my grandmother’s (my dad’s mom) 100th birthday, but she passed way in 2000. Whenever I think of my grandmother I can’t help but remember her love of watermelon, tomatoes, and fried chicken. Also, I remember her telling me the story of how as a young girl she thought the fireworks were in honor of her birthday. I don’t know at what age see realized this wasn’t true, but she always said that realizing this made her feel a bit sad. Today is also a day that all Americans should remember the freedoms that we enjoy and thank those who help us enjoy them (regardless of whether they served in the military in the past or are currently doing so).
However and wherever you, your friends and family choose to mark the occasion, I hope you have an enjoyable and blessed July 4th. It is a great day to have a backyard cookout, go to the beach, watch a fireworks show, or just spend some quality time with those that you love. I myself am enjoying a nice relaxing day at home watching movies and spending some quality time with my boyfriend, Donald. So, you could say I’m enjoying my own little slice of heaven on Earth.
I wish all of you who visit this site a very happy and blessed Independence Day on this July 4th, 2009. I am thankful to each of you who take the time to regularly visit this site. Take the chance to enjoy the great outdoors and all the beauty that nature has to offer today. I am also thankful to live in America and enjoy all of life’s freedoms and blessings that are the result of doing so.
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High Hummingbird Mortality Rate
Nature is all about survival in the animal kingdom. Hummingbirds are no different. It may surprise you to know that a high number of young hummingbird hatchlings don’t survive. Studies that have been done on fledgling success, those hummingbirds that make it from hatching to full feathering, range from 17% to 59% of the number of eggs which had been laid.
There are a number of explanations for the high rate of hummingbird mortality. The number one explanation is the various predators of the hummingbird. A hummingbird mother will try fiercely to defend her eggs or young, but even so it is quite often with out success.
Other explainations also include the following: bad weather such as extreme cold or heat, heavy rains or even high winds. Accidents also help to account for the high mortality rate of hummingbird fledgling death.
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A Hummingbird’s Body Temperature
A human being has a normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees. Have you ever wondered how a hummingbird’s body temperature compares to a humans? It may surprise you to discover that the hummingbird has a higher body temperature then we humans do. If so, then this post will provide you with the bit of information you seek. A hummingbird has a normal body temperature of between 105-108 degrees. That body temperature can lower by between 20 -50 degrees whenever the hummingbird is trying to conserve energy while in a state of torpor or while food is scarce.
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What is an Ant Moat?
A friend who is a new hummingbird enthusiast recently asked me what I would recommend as the most effective way to solve the problem of ants at your hummingbird feeder. My response was the use of an ant moat. She looked at me with a puzzled look on her face and then asked me to explain exactly what an ant moat is and how it works. That recent experience got me to thinking that there may be others out there who are wondering the same thing, so this is what has inspired me to write about it in this post.
The best description that I can offer of an ant moat is that it is a small cup-like device that hangs between your feeder and your hook. You then fill the device with water and this then creates a barrier the ants. Some ant moats are sold separately or some models of hummingbird feeders come with a built in ant moat. Either one will work and the choice is entirely up to you.
Ants can be a nagging problem if you have hummingbird feeders, but the ant moat is a great solution to this very common problem. So look into this as a way to solve this persistent problem. You will be glad you solved this problem and so will the hummingbirds.