Hummingbirds For Mom
The above photo is of a male Costa’s Hummingbird. You can tell the bird is a male due to the metallic green back, violet purple crown and gorget, very long throat feathers and green breast. The average weight for the male of this species is 3.05 grams. Costa’s Hummingbirds don’t migrate very long distances, so they are often among the first birds to arrive each spring.
Hummingbirds learn by trial and error which flowers will provide the greatest amout of nectar. This is surprising, to me, because hummingbirds have the ability to see into the ultra-violet rannge, so I figured this was the explaination for their choice of a partular flower. The ideal colors to attract hummingbirds are red, orange and pink, but others will do a good job as well.
Tubular flowers are known to be a favorite with hummingbirds, because the shape of these flowers make it easy to use their beaks to probe within the flower for the nectar. Usually, tubular flowers are known for holding a large amount of nectar at the base.
Another important consideration when designing your hummingbird garden is that the plants you select should have various bloom times. The goal is to provide the hummingbirds with a natural food source and thus entice the birds to remain around for as long a possible. The hummingbirds will be nesting from March through September so during this time the birds will need a depenable food source. Due to their very agressive and territorial nature, hummingbirds will vigorously defend a food source, so it may help if you have more then one area in your yard that is designed to attract the hummingbirds. This will help to ensure that several hummingbirds can be feeding at the same time.
A place can forever impact and shape your life. The state of Virginia is a such a place for me and as a result it holds a very special place in my heart. I spent about 8 years living there when I was growing up and my dad was in the Navy. My family moved to Texas in 1978 when my dad retired from the Navy, and we have lived here ever since then. Nevertheless, Virginia will always represent "home" for me because it is where I spent many years that truly helped shape me into the women I am today. Also, I still have some of the most important people in my life that remain there and continue to have enduring, lifelong friendships with these amazing and special people. Also, Virginia is the first place I ever remember seeing my first hummingbird. As a result, the state of Virginia and hummingbirds will be forever linked in my mind, Way back then, I never imagined just how important a role hummingbirds would play in my life.
Those of you living in the state of Virginia will have the following three species of hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Allen’s Hummingbird and the Roufos Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds will make their migratory flight during the day and they will enter the state of torpor during the night. The hummingbirds will begin arriving in Varginia from mid April until the end of May. The hummingbirds will breed from early May through mid July.