Month: October 2009

A Few Hummingbird Migration Facts

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If you are an avid hummingbird enthusiast, then you will understand when I say that the yard can sure seem mighty lonely without the presence of these little flying dynamos. My mom and I would miss the aerial displays and territorial behavior of the hummingbirds once they had migrated out of our area of the country. Have you ever wondered about the journey that these birds make when they leave your area of the country or prior to the hummingbird’s return to the area? If so, then this post was written with you in mind.

The term migration means the annual movements of the hummingbirds between one region or habitat and another. Hummingbirds migrate during both the spring and fall each year. Also, a hummingbird will follow the exact same path each year from the first time they every made the migratory journey. These are just a few of the facts about hummingbird migration that I wish to share with you today.

Generally speaking, hummingbirds do not fly very high during migration. Whenever the hummingbirds are over land, they fly at about treetop level, because this helps them to be able to see and locate potential food sources along the path of their journey.

A hummingbird would be unable to survive the cold temperatures that are found at higher altitudes. These birds are much too small and there for lack the insulation that they would need to do so. The fact that hummingbirds can’t survive the colder temperatures found at higher altitudes should make people realize that there is no truth whatsoever to the common myth of hummingbirds migrating on the backs of Canadian geese.

A hummingbird that flies over water durning its migratory journey will do so just above the wave tops.

I hope that this post gives you a better understanding of the journey that the hummingbird makes durning both the spring and fall of each year. Think of it this way, the birds are leaving us for a while but they will eventually return. Thank goodness, because, in my own opinion, hummingbirds make the world a much happier and brighter place. That is because each time I see one it serves to remind me of my mom and thoughts of her always make me happy.

Hummingbird Videos

Hummingbirds:How Do Hummingbirds Protect Themselves?

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Even as tiny as they are, hummingbirds are quite capable of protecting themselves. Have you ever wondered just how the hummingbird does this? This video will allow you to discover the various techniques and methods that the hummingbird will use to protect themselves.

Dear Mom

How Tiny is a Hummingbird?

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As you probably already know, hummingbirds are very small, but just what does that mean? This is something that many people have often wondered but probably never bothered to discover on their own. I know that this is something my mom always wanted to know herself, but I do not think she ever really tried to find the answer for herself. Well, if you are like her, then this post will provide you with the answer to this question.

Any species of hummingbird measures between 2.5-8 inches or between 6-20 cm in length. Thus aptly earning the hummingbird the title as the smallest of all the birds.

In terms of its weight, the hummingbird weighs about as much as a United States penny, which weighs approximately .1 ounce.

As these few facts would indicate, the hummingbird is an extremely tiny little bird. In fact, it may be even smaller then you yourself could even have imagined. I wish my mom was still alive today for me to be able to ask her if this information would come as a surprise to her or not. I would imagine that she would have said she was astonished to discover just how tiny the hummingbird actually is in reality.

Hummingbird Food

How Honey Harms Hummingbirds

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If you enjoy hummingbirds and wish to feed them, I have an extremely important reminder for you. You should never make your nectar solution using honey! Here is a brief explanation as to why you must not do this.

The honey will spoil quite rapidly because it ferments and this cause a deadly bacterium to form. No matter what you may have heard before, honey is not "more natural" than the cane sugar that is sold as white sugar. Honey has been chemically altered by honey bees: it consist of flower nectar and whatever ever else the honey bee ingested, digested, and spit back out again. Honey is nothing like the sucrose found in flower nectar and white sugar.

Hummingbird Feeders

Leaving Feeders Up Won’t Hurt and More

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In many parts of the country, the hummingbirds have begun their migratory journey. This usually prompts people to begin wondering when they should take down their hummingbird feeders. This is something that my own mom often wondered about and that I have frequently been asked about by various friends and family who know that I am an avid hummingbird enthusiast. This post is for all of you and I thank you for prompting me to write this particular post.

Here in southeast Texas, which is located about 90 miles east of Houston, we have mostly Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and usually by this time of year they have migrated out of the area. This year seems to be different and the migration seems to be delayed. Several people I know, including my boyfriend’s mom, still have hummingbirds visiting their feeders every day at the present time. While it is difficult to explain the exact reason for this, it could be that the birds are just later in making their migratory journey or the birds may not be well enough to make the journey any longer.

It is important to know that there is no exact date by which your feeder should be taken down. The decision to do so isn’t an exact science. As a general rule, it is believed that leaving your feeders up until at least two weeks have passed since seeing your last hummingbird is a good idea. Doing so will not stop the hummingbirds from making their migratory journey. When migration occurs is determined by a change in the length of the day or photoperiod.

Also, leaving your feeders up for a longer period of time will provide a valuable food source for any birds that are late in making their migratory journey, those which are somehow off course or those that are physically unable to make the migratory journey.

On a personal note, I must apologize for the fact that there have not been any new post for the past several days. This was totally unplanned and unavoidable due to the fact that my Internet was down. It was not until earlier today that my friend was able to fix the problem. Thanks for your understanding concerning this matter.