Hummingbirds Are On The Move
Hummingbirds that have spent the summer in our gardens are now beginning to head south to Mexico and Central America on their Fall migration, joined by their cousins who ventured as far north as the Canadian Maritimes. Gardeners everywhere love seeing these amazing aerial acrobats flying about their yards!
Hopefully your garden includes nectar plants with tubular flowers such as the scarlet bee balm (Monarda didyma) pictured here. Natural food is always best. But, as the days get shorter and flowers fade and go to seed, you may want to add feeders to provide artificial nectar for hummers passing through.
The best solution consists of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water (this mirrors the sugar concentration of the nectar found in flowers). Boil the water for 2–3 minutes before adding sugar. Cool and store the mixture in a refrigerator until you are ready to use it. There is no need to add red dye and it could in fact be harmful to the birds. Make sure to change the sugar water regularly (every few days in warm weather) and clean the feeder to prevent mold.
Although 11 hummingbird species have been documented in Georgia, the ruby-throated hummingbird is the most commonly seen. Hummingbirds may even be found in Georgia in winter so experts say it’s a good idea to leave a feeder up year-round, as long as you are willing to maintain it and make sure the sugar water doesn’t freeze.
A combination of nectar plants and feeders is the best strategy for maximizing hummer visits to your garden. Plan plantings so that nectar-producing plants are blooming throughout the growing season. Experts also recommend planting flowers that attract small, soft-bodied insects, which provide a protein source for hummingbirds. Yes, even hummers need something besides sugar, especially when they are raising their young and traveling long distances during migration!
Here are some fast facts about these amazing creatures:
They can fly as fast as 30 mph.
They can rotate 180 degrees in a figure-eight pattern up to 80 times per second, allowing them to fly backwards, hover in place, and quickly change direction with precision control.
To conserve energy, hummingbirds can enter a state of torpor, slowing their metabolism and lowering their body temperature.
Hummingbirds are solitary migrants. They travel alone, not in flocks.
Hummingbird nests are made of lichen, moss and spider webs. They are about the size of a half-dollar.
To maintain their high-energy lifestyle, hummingbirds need to eat every 10 to 15 minutes.
--Submitted by Headwaters MG Nanette O’Hara