Category: Dear Mom

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Dear Mom

Are There Hummingbirds In Alaska?

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Guess what, mom!  I just discovered that there are indeed hummingbirds found in Alaska.  Maybe Kolin could take some photos of the hummingbirds there if and when he ever gets the opportunity to visit Alaska some day.  He has always said that he would love to visit there and see all the beauty that nature has to offer and that it would be an amazing opportunity to photograph the beauty found there.  So when you go there Kolin, be sure and try to photograph the hummingbirds for me and in mom’s memory.  I’ll be sure an appreciate the hummingbird’s beauty for the both of us.  

Now, blow is some information I thought everyone would find quite interesting about the Rufous Hummingbird.  

The Rufous Hummingbird is the smallest bird found in Alaska. Just how small is this bird?  I have the answer for you.  The Rufous Hummingbird is less then 4 inches long and weighs only 3.25 grams.  Just to give you some idea how little that truly is in terms of weight, that is less then a penny weighs.  Another comparison is that it would take 78,000,000 hummingbirds to equal the  weight of a commercial 737 jet.

So, even as far away as Alaska is there are indeed hummingbirds found there.  I don’t know about you but I myself find this quite surprising.  Why is that you ask?  Well, I guess because I probably have the wrong idea that it is always cold in Alaska.  Regardless, I hope my brother will one day get to fulfill his dream of visiting and photographing the beauty that is found in Alaska and who knows maybe that could even include some amazing photos of a Rufous Hummingbird.

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Dear Mom Hummingbird Feeders

Guidelines of When to Change Nectar

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It is a well known fact that you will need to change the nectar solution in your hummingbird feeder regularly.  Just what is meant by regularly?  This is something that my mom and so many others have wondered about and never quite had the definitive answer to before.  This post will provide you with the information you seek.  Well, what is meant by regularly depends on where you live and the temperature you are experiencing in your area of the country.

Below you will find a chart that offers some guidelines as to how often the nectar solution should be changed.  The temperatures listed below are only guidelines and are not exact. The information in this list is not my own and comes from the website How to Enjoy Hummingbirds.

High temperatures…………Change nectar after

71-75……………………………6 days

76-80……………………………5 days

81-84……………………………4 days

85-88……………………………3 days

89-92……………………………2 days

93+………………………………change daily

You should keep an eye on your feeders and make sure that the nectar solution does not appear to be cloudy or appear to contain mold.  If this occurs, immediately clean your feeders well and fill once more with fresh nectar solution.  Another simple rule of thumb is to clean your feeders every single time that they need to be filled once again.  It is far better to make sure that your feeders are clean and the nectar solution fresh rather then risking causing any harm to the hummingbirds that we all so enjoy.

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Dear Mom

Oklahoma’s Hummingbirds and More

Family is very important to me, and I always look forward to spending time with my extended family that live all over the United States. In April of each year, we have our annual family reunion and crawfish boil. There are a large number of relatives that come to the reunion from Oklahoma and doing research for this post made me think of all of them. I hope all of my relatives that live in Okalahoma will take the time to enjoy and appreciate the many different species of hummingbirds that are known to visit your state.
 
Seven different species of hummingbirds have been documented in Oklahoma. They are the following: the Black-chinned Hummingbird, the Rufous Hummingbird, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the Calliope Hummingbird, the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, the Anna’s Hummingbird and the Green Violet-eared Hummingbird.
 
The males begin arriving in the state in mid-March, while the females arrive later, usually around early April. These tiny birds will remain in Oklahoma until mid-October, when the male hummingbirds will begin leaving Oklahoma, followed closely by the females and juveniles. Although quite rare, it is possible for a hummingbird to stay over in the winter.
 
On a personal note, I must apologize because there hasn’t been any new post for the past several days. This was quite accidental and unplanned, due to the fact that my Internet service was unexpectedly down and I had to be helped with resolving the issue. It seems that when I was informed that there were updates waiting to be installed and I did this it somehow interfered with the server and my Internet connection.  Sorry for the inconvenience.
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Dear Mom

Some Illnesses of Hummingbirds

Cold and flu season is just around the corner, as the many fliers that I have seen posted all around recently have served to remind me. In fact, when I saw my family doctor recently, he also reminded me of this and he informed me that I would be receiving my flu shot in October. The upcoming flu season and my desire to prevent it got me to wondering about what illnesses are common in hummingbirds. Just like humans, I would imagine that it is common for nature’s animals to become ill. This is a topic that I’m sure you would have also wondered about mom, so I couldn’t help but think of you while doing the research.  Here’s what I discovered on the topic and I hope you will find it both interesting and informative.
 
Yes, mom, it is indeed possible for hummingbirds to suffer from illnesses in the wild. These can include fungal infections and the avian pox virus. Fungal infections can result in black bulbous growths on the bill. As a result, the bill will appear thickened and many times the tongue will also be thick and white, rather then having its normal transparent appearance.
 
With Avian pox there will be cauliflower like looking growths at the base of the bill, around the eyes, under the wings and on the legs and feet. In most cases, it is usually possible to identify an ill hummingbird its appearance. Here are some suggestions as to what to watch for.
 
Throughout the day, healthy hummingbirds will likely alert and actively preening, vocalizing, flying and defending territories. Unhealthy hummingbirds are probably those seen constantly perching on a feeder, have body feathers that are puffed out like a cotton ball (during the day), have their eyes closed or have tongues extending out of their bills.
 
Hummingbirds showing any of these signs will probably require immediate treatment by a wildlife rehabilitator/center as soon as possible. Until then, the most important thing anyone can do to try and help these birds is to provide heat and food.
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Dear Mom

Facts on the Range of Hummingbirds

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Have you ever wondered what country has the most species of hummingbirds?  Or wanted to know how many different species breed in Mexico or Canada?  Do you know how many species breed in the United States?  If you have ever wondered the answers to any of these questions, then after reading this post you will have discovered the answers to the questions you may have wondered about but didn’t know the answer. 

This is the type of information that my mom would have enjoyed discovering, so each time I share something like this with you I can’t help but think of her.  Mom always loved watching nature shows on TV and learning information from them.  There were many occasion on which I would not have watched a show with her and later she would tell me something that she discovered while watching the show.

Here are some facts on the range of the hummingbird that I hope you will enjoy.  Do any of them surprise you?

  • The largest variety of hummingbirds is found in South America.  The country of Ecuador, which is located in Northwestern South America, has the greatest amount of species, an amazing 163 of them.
  • There are sixteen different species of hummingbirds which are known to breed in the United States.  This only 5 percent of the world’s total hummingbird population.
  • There are fifty species which regularly breed in Mexico.
  • There are only four species of hummingbirds which breed in Canada.  They are the Anna’s, Black-chinned, Calliope, and Rufous.