This post will help you discover how to attract hummingbirds with the right plants and through the added use of hummingbird feeders. You will discover why it is important to use both methods to help entice the hummingbirds to your yard.
Month: May 2010
Many people will never have the opportunity to see a hummingbird nest firsthand. I myself have never personally had the opportunity to do so and I am certain that my mom also never had the opportunity to do so either. As I sit here writing this, I cannot help think of my mom, because this is something that we both would have enjoyed. Who knows, maybe one day I myself will be fortunate enough to witness this marvel of nature and construction firsthand.
You may be wondering why it is that many people never witness a hummingbird’s nest personally. Well, I have the answer for you. The reason for this is usually because people do not know where to look for a nest or what to look for. With this in mind, I thought I would share with you some basic facts about a hummingbirds nest.
Most hummingbird species build a cup-shaped nest which is located on the branch of a tree or shrub, but there are a few tropical species of hummingbirds which normally attach their nests to leaves. The size of the nest will depend on the size of the species of hummingbird. The nest can be smaller than half of a walnut shell to several centimeters in diameter.
Many hummingbird species use spider silk is used to bind the nest material together and secure the structure to its support. Silk is used because it allows the nest to expand with the growing young. Usually, a hummingbird will lay two white eggs. Incubation lasts 15 to 19 days, depending on the hummingbird species, ambient temperature, and female attentiveness to the nest.
The mother feeds the nestlings on small arthropods and nectar by inserting her bill into the open mouth of a nestling and regurgitating the food into its crop.
It is important that your flower garden to consist of many levels of vegetation. The area should have some tall trees, some medium-height trees, some flowers, some grassy areas, as well as some shrubs. This post will explain why creating layers within your hummingbird garden is important.
When you are working to create the layered look of your hummingbird garden, you will want to place the shortest sized plants in the front, then the mid-sized plants in the middle and the tallest sized plants in the back.
There are many advantages to the hummingbird when your hummingbird garden has many layers. There is a feast of plants on which the hummingbird can feed and it is quite easy for the hummingbird to move from one plant to anther in order to feed. It also will offer the widest variety of textures, shapes, sizes and colors at any location within the garden. Also, the different levels will provide the hummingbirds a variety of choices of where to feed or where to perch to rest or roost.
Hummingbirds love water and having a birdbath is a great element to add to any hummingbird garden. This post will discuss the importance of proper preparation of the birdbath for the hummingbirds.
The birdbath should have a very shallow water depth, between a quarter an a half inch is the maximum level of water you want. This will allow the birds to stand in the water if they choose to do so. Adding some small flat rocks to the birdbath will create different water depths within the birdbath. In addition, you can add pebbles or large-grain sand which will help accommodate both drinking and bathing.
As an added source of water, you can place a mister or sprinkler near the birdbath. The hummingbirds will enjoy this as well as the birdbath.
Having a source of water in your hummingbird garden is important. Having this element in your garden will help entice the hummingbirds to remain in your garden larger and therefore allow you more time to enjoy their presence and beauty.