Author: Hummingbird

A Little Hummingbird History

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Hummingbirds have been around for longer then you might ever imagine.  The information that follows comes from the World of Hummingbirds.  The hummingbird first appreared in artwork in the year 1829, which gave the birds worldwide exposure.  The first known book on the subject of hummingbirds was published in 1940 by a man named Bent.

 

 

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Hummingbird Food

What is Natural Pest Control?

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Natural pest control is nature’s version of insect repellant without the use of harmful chemicals. Traditional pesticides are harmful to hummingbirds and should never be used because the hummingbird can ingest the pesticide while feeding on insects and spiders.  Plants such as marigold and mint will act as natural insect repellents.
 
Attracting lady bugs to your garden is another method of natural pest control. The following plants are known to attract lady bugs:  Angelica, Caraway, Cilantro, Coreopsis, Cosmos (particularly white), Dandelions, Dill, Fennel, Geraniums, Tansy and Yarrow. It is also possible to purchase ladybugs from some garden supply stores. You would need to ask the ones in your area to see if they sell them.
 
Why not give natural pest control a try in your hummingbird garden? It is simple change to make and it will help insure that the plants in your garden are a safe food source for the hummingbirds that visit your garden.

More Then One Nest

Even in nature, it seems as if a mother’s work is never done. Did you know that it is possible for the female hummingbird to care for more than one nest at the same time? This surprising fact is something which I myself just recently discovered. The female might be building another nest at the same she is caring for her young hatchlings. I am uncertain if this is something that is true of all hummingbird species or not. I was unable to discover the answer while researching the topic.   
 
Are you as surprised by this discovery as I am? Even with the knowledge of hummingbirds that I have gained, this is something which I was surprised to discover. I assumed that the female’s full attention would be on the care, feeding and rearing of the young. While this is still a very important priority, it appears that the female hummingbird is also working to ensure the overall survival of the species.
 
Also, why would the female not use the same nest more then once? Even if the nest was in need of repair, wouldn’t doing so be more time efficient then building a new nest from scratch? After all, the birds would likely remain in the area, assuming that the food supply remained plentiful until migration season, right?
 
If anyone out there knows the answers to these questions, please share them. I for one would greatly appreciate it and I’m sure others would also.  Thanks!
 
Categories
Hummingbird Feeders

Tips on Hummingbird Feeder Placement

The use of a feeder is probably one of the easiest ways to attract hummingbirds.  Where you place your feeder is very important.  It is my hope that the following tips will help you select the proper location for your feeder.

  • The feeder should be placed in the shade, because this will help prevent the rapid spoilage of the nectar during warm weather.
  • You will want to place your feeder high enough to prevent squirls and other preditors from being able to reach it.
  • The feeder should be placed out of the wind, because gusty winds can cause the nectar solution to slosh out of it.
  • The feeder can be placed among flowers, shrubs or trees that are known to attract hummingbirds.  This will offer the birds a choice of which food souce from which to feed.

Now that you have selected the proper location for your hummingbird feeder, fill it up, wait and watch for the hummingbirds to arrive.  If you are an avid birdwatcher then you are among very good company, because birdwaching and gardening are the top two outdoor activities in America today.  The birds will surly provide you with many hours of enjoyment.  You will wonder why you did not put out a feeder before now and the birds will be thankful for a reliable food souce.   

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Hummingbird Feeders Hummingbird Food

Hummingbirds in Freezing Temperatures

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Depending on where live, you may see some hummingbirds well after freezing temperatures have chased most hummingbirds south! It never ceases to amaze me that these little dynamos survive for days in freezing temperatures but they do. If you still have hummingbirds in your area, don’t take your feeder down. The hummingbird needs a reliable and depenable food source on which to help it fatten up for several days before leaving. Eventually, hummingbirds do get sick and too old to make the journey. I don’t know how you would tell the difference between a late migrant and a hummingbird that isn’t going to finish the journey so leave those feeders up just in case.

Hummingbirds can go into a state known as torpor during cold temperatures. This is astate very similar to hibornation.  In this state, they might appear to be dead. Entering this state allows the hummingbird to conserve energy. As soon as the bird warms up, it will revive and all of its functions will return to normal. If you find a hummingbird hanging upside down on your feeder in the morning, do not assume that it is dead. 

Hummingbirds are tough and hardy creatures and can servive some amazingly tough conditions, including freezing temperatues.  Hummingbirds that are able to do so will migrate when it is time for them to do so, but not all hummingbirds migrate.  Thus, leaving your feedrs up can provide a vital food source for any hummingbird in need of a meal.