Hummingbirds For Mom

Have you ever seen a group of hummingbirds together and wondered if there was a name for such a gathering of  these birds.  Well, it seems that there are several names for a group of hummingbirds.  These names include the following:  a "bouquet", "glittering", "hover", "shimmer", and "tune" of hummingbirds.

Who knew that there were so many different names for a group of hummingbirds.  It makes me wonder how many birds it takes to make up a group of hummingbirds?  Unfortunately, in my research for today’s post, I was unable to discover the answer to this question.  If anyone out there knows the answer, please share it with us.

As a hummingbird enthusiast there are some things that you can do to help avoid contributing to the injury or illness of a hummingbird.  The information listed below is intended to serve as a reminder, because no one would wish to harm the hummingbird.

• The hummingbird feeder must be kept clean at all times!  The build-up of mold or bacteria can be extemely harmful to the hummingbirds.
• Be sure to change your nectar solution frequenly to prevent it from spoiling.
• When making your own nectar solution, use only granulated white sugar and not red food coloring, honey, or artificial sweetners.
• Never use pesticides in your garden, as these things can be injested by the hummingbird and cause harm.
• If you use an ant trap with your feeder, fill it with only water.
• Petroleum jelly, tangle foot type products, or cooking oil should never be used as a method to try and prevent common problems with insects.  These things can get on the hummingbird’s beak or feathers and cause problems for the bird.

The gorgets of a hummingbird are made up of flat iridescent feathers that flash bright colors whenever the sunlight is reflected at certain angles.  It is only the male hummingbirds which have these iridescent feathers.  The gorgets will serve many important purposes.  The hummingbird lacks a "song" so the male will use the gorgets to help them attact the female during courtship displays.  They are also used as a way to threaten territorial intruders.  Gorgets are also used to help identify various hummingbird species.

One of the remakable qualities of the hummingbird is its ability to hover.  Have you ever wondered how long a hummingbird can hover?  The answer may shock you, as it did me.  A scientific test revealed the amazing answer.  The test revealed that hummingbirds have the remarkable abity to hover in one place for as long as 50 minutes.