Month: June 2010

Categories
Hummingbirds

Are Window Screens a Danger to Hummingbirds?

The beak or bill of a hummingbird is extremely small. It is not uncommon for a hummingbird to get their beak or bill stuck in window screens. This can not only harm the hummingbird but can cause the bird to starve to death if it is not rescued or removed from the screen quickly. To help you better understand this man made danger to the hummingbird, I thought it would help if you understood more about the hummingbird’s beak or bill.

The beak or bill on a hummingbird is longer in proportion to their body than other birds. This is so they can reach deep down into tubular flowers to extract the nectar from it. Many people have the misconception that the hummingbird’s beak is hollow, but this is not true. The hummingbird does not drink nectar up as if drinking it through a straw.

The beak or bill has an upper and lower portion, much like any other bird. Both the upper and lower beak is covered in a substance called rhamphotheca. This sheath is made of a keratin like material much like your fingernails. The top of the beak, called the maxilla, overlaps the lower beak slightly. The lower beak is also slightly flexible and can widen and bend lightly downward as the hummingbirds open their mouths. Hummingbirds have a joint in the upper jaw, just behind the maxilla. This joint enables the maxilla to bend back toward the head slightly as the hummingbirds open their mouths. When a hummingbird is less than one year of age, the maxilla is rough with corrugations along the sides and edges. Hummingbirds older than one year of age have smoother sides and edges. A few adult hummingbirds will have some minor corrugations throughout their lifetimes.

There is no way to know how frequently a hummingbird’s beak or bill becomes stuck in a window screen. You just need to be aware that window screens can be a man made danger to hummingbirds due to the fact that their beak or bill can get stuck in there. If this occurs, you may need to help remove the bird or it may quickly starve to death and die as a result of its bill or beak getting stuck in the window screen.

The information contained in this post about the hummingbird’s break or bill is not mine. It comes from the World of Hummingbirds.Com and I wish to give proper credit to that source.

Categories
Dear Mom Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds As Fathers

On this Father’s Day 2010, I wish to offer Happy Father’s Day wishes to all the fathers out there. I hope that each of you had a very special day with your family. A father is someone who usually has a very big impact on the lives of his children. This got me to thinking; can the same be said in the world of nature? In some instances, it can be found to be true, but not as it relates to hummingbirds. Let me explain further.

It may surprise you to discover this, but male and female hummingbirds do not form a pair bond, and the males and females remain together only for courtship and mating. Once the act of mating has taken place, the male hummingbird no longer bares any further responsibilities toward reproduction. As a result, it is the female hummingbird that therefore bares the sole responsibility for building the nests and caring for the young birds once they are born.

Since my own father has played such a huge role in my own life, it saddens me to know that this is not true of the male hummingbird. The male hummingbird will miss out on the opportunity to impact or influence its offspring. Thus the male is free to mate again quickly and this must be nature’s own way of ensuring that the hummingbird population will be maintained.

Regardless of how things work with regard to the male hummingbird, I am truly thankful myself to have been blessed with such a wonderful father. I hope you know this and how very much I love you.

Once again, Happy Father’s Day 2010 to all the fathers out there!

Categories
Hummingbirds

A Hummingbird’s Take Off

Just recently, while doing some research on the subject of hummingbirds, I discovered that the hummingbirds take off is far different then most other species of bird. Did you know this? Prior to this research, I did not. Here’s how the hummingbirds take off is different.

Most birds take off by leaping into the air by pushing away from their perch, but the hummingbird lifts off by rapidly moving its wings — gaining as much by the upward stroke as the downward stroke — actually pulling their branch perch upwards before they let go.

This information is from “Hummingbird,” The International Wildlife Encyclopedia, 1969, Vol. 9, p. 1136.

Categories
Hummingbird Feeders

Facts About Leaving Hummingbird Feeders Up

You would not believe the number of questions I am frequently ask with regard to if it is alright to leave hummingbird feeders up or should they be taken down. This is what has prompted me to write this post. I will address the most commonly asked questions on this subject.

Keeping your feeders up and full will not keep the birds from migrating. There is no such thing as an exact date by which time hummingbird feeders should be taken down. It is believed that migrating hummingbirds may be helped by feeders that are left up until at least two weeks have passed since seeing your last hummer. Leaving your feeders up will not stop or prevent a hummingbird from migrating.

Male hummingbirds generally migrate several weeks ahead of immature hummingbirds and females. When migration occurs is determined by a change in the length of the day or photoperiod.

Hummingbirds require a great deal of protein in their diets too and that doesn’t come from sugar feeders, but is gained when the birds eat insects. Shortened days, not lack of food, will tell the hummingbirds when to begin their journey. Hummingbird feeders should be left up at least three weeks after seeing your last bird. This will help migrating birds that pass through your area.

It is important to leave your feeders up and full. Migrating birds need all the quick and easy nourishment they can find to sustain the incredible energy demands of migration. It is vital that hummingbirds fatten up for their extended trips, particularly those crossing the Gulf of Mexico.

As you can see, it is important to leave your hummingbird feeders up for a long as possible. My sincere hope is that this post has addressed many of the commonly asked questions people have about leaving feeders up or not.

Categories
Hummingbird Food

Anyone Can Have a Hummingbird Garden

The ability to have a hummingbird does not require a great deal of space. Anyone who wishes to do so may have a hummingbird garden, even if you live in an apartment or have a very tiny yard. You may be thinking that this just simply is not possible but it truly does not require a great deal of space. Let me explain.

You see, the use of hanging baskets is a simple and effective way in which to attract hummingbirds to your yard. This post will provide you with the necessary information to help you effectively use hanging baskets as a way to attract the hummingbirds regardless of the size limitations your living environment may provide.

The choice of selecting the correct flowers is extremely important. This may seem extremely obvious, but you must select flowers which are known to thrive in hanging baskets and that will also attract the hummingbirds.

The plants you select should have nectar-rich tubular shaped blooms on them. This includes plants such as salvia and petunia which are excellent choices because these allow the hummingbird to easily access the nectar due to their long, narrow bills and tongues.

The plant form is also very important. You will want to select flowers that stick out from a plant’s foliage, by either protruding or dangling. This is important because hummingbirds normally feed while hovering, so this will provide ample air space so the birds’ beating wings easily clear any leaves.

The plants you select for use in your hanging baskets should offer a wide variety of color. Many people often associate the color red with helping to attract hummingbirds. Red is a color which hummingbirds can see from a great distance, so offering flowers that are nectar-rich and come in various shades of red should always attract their attention. However, flowers of almost any color, including orange, pink, purple, white and yellow will also attract hummingbirds and cause them to feed from these nectar-rich plants.

The quantity of blooms a plant produces will also play an important role in attracting hummingbirds. When selecting plants, you will want to choose plants with multiple flowers in open clusters. These types of plants are more appealing than plants like hibiscus that feature a small selection of large blooms.

You will also want to consider the bloom time of the plants you select. Choosing plants that have a long bloom time will help provide the hummingbirds with a source of nectar for an extended length of time. Another way to ensure that the hummingbirds will always have a source of nectar is to select plants that have staggered bloom times.

If you want to attract hummingbirds but think you can not due to space limitations, do not let that stop you. You can successfully do so through the use of hanging baskets. Give it a try! You will be glad you did and so will the hummingbirds.