This book by Donald and Lillian Stokes is well written, informative, useful and simply a joy to read. A great book for anyone who wants to attract and feed hummingbirds.
Garden Feeders can be very important to the migrating hummingbird. One thing that is crucial to the garden hummingbirds successful journey is that they are well nourished, full of nectar. By supplying them with fresh, full garden feeders, you are assisting in the migration process. Many people have experienced the feeding frenzy of the garden hummingbird just before migration. It is a site to see. The videos below are wonderful examples of several hummers feeding at once, enjoy.
Specific hummingbird migration patterns differ by species and habitats, but there are a few common points linking the different species? migration habits.
All hummingbirds migrate because of the hormonal changes within their bodies which are set off by changes in the length of daylight. This tells the birds when it is time to fly south for the winter.
Where they migrate to depends on the individual bird, but in general, most humming birds winter in Mexico. Some winter as far north as southern California across to Florida, and some journey all the way down to Panama.
In preparation for the big migration, they make sure they pack themselves full of nectar and insects. Such a small bird has to be strong to make such a long flight. Also, when humming birds make this incredible journey, they prefer to travel alone. Unlike geese or ducks, traveling in large groups doesn?t increase their chances of survival. Only one bird can feed off of a flower at a time, so waiting for every bird to feed would be a hassle and waste precious time. Also, humming birds are so small that predators usually ignore them anyways, so traveling in large groups offers no extra protection. Just because hummers travel alone, however, does not mean that you will not see more than one humming bird at a time; after all, several may be traveling at the same time and cross paths on their journeys.
They typically travel during the day and rest up at night, except in special situations like that of the ruby-throated hummingbird, which travels over the Gulf of Mexico. It takes more than one daylight for them to make it across, so the birds must fly through the night until land is reached.
A journey from the northern United States to the gulf coast would take anywhere from 5-10 days depending on how often they stop to rest. If they travel down to Panama it usually takes about 2 weeks. Hummingbirds remain in warmer climates until it is time for them to fly north again and mate.
This springtime migration is usually a little bit faster since the females are ready to get started nesting. Again, the hummers pack on a lot of weight for the flight, timing their departure so that they will arrive when the flowering plants are first blooming. Males arrive first and then females anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks later. Males claim their territories and wait for the females, doing fancy flight displays to lure them into their territory. Hummingbirds waste no time in starting their nesting process.
When fall rolls around, they start to fly south again, and the process repeats itself. The hummers are always in danger when traveling: lack of food, storms, unknown predators, windows?. These guys have to expect anything, and the distances they fly earn them the highest respects considering how small and vulnerable they are.
Hope you enjoyed the article!
George & Judy Steiner [http://www.hum-ming-bird.com]www.hum-ming-bird.com
George and wife Judy are empty nesters (ah ha no wonder the affinity for birds!)who enjoy the outdoors, stained glass and eagerly awaiting for the truckloads of laundry that their two college daughters bring home. Of recent, the internet has played an integral part in George’s lengthening “To Do” list and Judy’s search for a internet rehabilitation center.
Hummingbirds can go through quite a bit of nectar during a season. It is very easy to make your own nectar. The recipe is simply 1 part sugar to 4 parts boiled water. As I mentioned in an earlier post, my Girl Scouts made homemade nectar as part of a service project. I found this video that shows exactly how we made our own nectar, so I thought I would share it.
I just discovered this terrific video of a garden hummingbird using a homemade garden feeder. This is a very creative garden feeder made completely from recycled items. What a great idea and such a nice video.
Garden Feeders can be made from several different items. From simple to elaborate, your Garden Hummingbird will not care. The most important thing will be ease of use and access to nectar. With this in mind, items like small vials, insulin bottles, plastic bottles and even baby food jars can be used to create beautiful Garden Feeders. The nice thing about making your own feeders is that you are most likely recycling an item for a different purpose. Just last year my Girl Scouts each created several small Garden Feeders. They were made with baby food jars. Each one was unique, decorated with anything and everything RED. We used paint, ribbon, beads, sequins, rhinestones, small red silk flowers and anything else we could find in our homes. The only cost for this project was heavy gage wire, which is very reasonable. The wire was used to create a hanger for the garden feeder. This was a recycling service project for the girls. After the garden feeders were completed, they were donated to local senior centers and convalescent homes. Each garden feeder came with one bottle of homemade nectar, also made by the girls and instructions for creating more. The girls really enjoyed the project and if these girls can make their own feeders, so can you!
Baby Food Jar Garden Feeders:
Materials: 1 clean baby food jar Red adornments
Steps: Adults should do this step Using a nail or ice pick, poke a 1/8 inch hole in the lid of the baby food jar. Decorate the jar with beautiful red adornments Using heavy gage wire, create a hanger. Wrap around the lid area. Fill the jars with homemade nectar. Enjoy….
As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is very important to clean your garden feeder regularly. If you leave the nectar (sugar solution) unattended, it can cause mold and be very harmful to the Garden Hummingbird. I found a wonderful video shown below that demonstrates how to clean your garden feeder. Enjoy…
If you live in or around the Augusta Georgia area, you have a wonderful opportunity this evening to participate in a workshop dedicated to Healing Gardens. I just saw this article on Augustachronicle.com detailing this free event. Chris and Sandy Randall’s workshop, Healing Gardens and Gardens That Attract Wildlife will also explain what types of plants attract garden hummingbirds, and how to create and maintain bird feeders.
You’ve planted a beautiful garden full of colorful nectar bearing blossoms for your Garden Hummingbird. The rich red and orange colors attract them and they are a true delight to watch. Now that your garden is planted, you may want to continue to grow your garden by adding some wonderful elements.
A garden feeder is a sure way to keep your Garden Hummingbird coming back day after day or to attract more hummers. In their quest for nectar, they will visit 1000 flowers per day and they usually feed between six and eight times in an hour, but each feeding usually last less then 30 seconds in length. More than one garden feeder is recommended. Different species will feed at different heights and if you have more than one garden hummingbird, then more than one feeder will discourage any aggression. Placing your garden feeder in a shady spot is also helpful, so the nectar, (sugar solution) will last longer. Garden feeders come in a variety of sizes and colors although you will find red feeders are popular. They can be hung from your home or on a garden pole. The garden pole offers greater opportunity for height arrangement. To make it easier to view your garden hummingbird, you may want to consider placing your feeder near a window. Garden feeders that come with a built in ant mote are also very desirable and this can be an added benefit. One problem that can arise from the addition of a garden feeder is ants. Having the built in ant mote will deter this problem. Some feeders are very ornamental and others are very basic. They will all work, but the garden feeders that most closely resemble the flora will no doubt draw attention to your garden hummingbird. In other words, They want something as close to the original experience as possible, and it needs to be easy for the hummingbird to extract the nectar from the feeder, Ease of use and beauty are what make good hummingbird feeders There is some care involved with having a garden feeder but it is very minor. It is important to clean your feeder every week and more often in warm weather. Garden feeders can be found in any nursery, home improvement store or can be purchased on the Internet. You can also purchase commercial nectar or make your own. A basic recipe is 1 part sugar to 4 parts boiled water. Do not add any food coloring, as this is harmful to the hummingbird.
A garden feeder can be a nice addition to your garden.
So happy designing and remember it’s your hummingbird garden, so have fun growing it….
I read a wonderful article today from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the benefits of a natural habitat garden. They are being created in many areas to assist with the therapy of patients. Most often they are called, Healing Gardens. Healing gardens are plant-dominated environments generally associated with health care organizations. The plants, flowers, water and other aspects of nature are designed as a retreat and respite for patients, visitors and staff members. Often these gardens attract hummingbirds, butterflies and other natural habitants. Community Memorial in Menomonee Falls built its healing garden two years ago. Visitors find it inspiring and peaceful. Melinda Myers, a nationally recognized horticulture expert, Journal Sentinel columnist and an Aurora St. Luke’s neighborhood resident, said gardens and plants have a proven positive effect on people. Those who interact with nature often gain a sense of tranquility, calmness or happiness, which in turn may help speed healing.
This is a terrific idea and it can even be done in your own backyard. What a wonderful gift to give to yourself or others. Your own healing garden filled with wonderful treats for your garden hummingbird. It’s easy to get started. My own garden began with one feeder. The rest as they say, is history!
Have you seen a Garden Hummingbird lately? If you have then you may want to create a garden that will attract these wonderful creatures. This do it yourself project is not only fun but can be very educational for the entire family.
Whether you want to create a large yard garden or a small window box garden, you can create an oasis that will entice a Garden Hummingbird. Once you have designed your space, you will want to discuss your plan with your local nursery expert. There are many varieties of plants and flowers that can be used and many are area specific. If you don’t have access to a nursery then try a garden club or library for area specific information
Garden Hummingbirdsare like magnets to certain gardens. They are attracted to red or orange colored tube like flowers. The blossoms should be nectar bearing. Although they are attracted to the bright colors, they will feed on any blossoms that provide nectar. Providing an area to perch or nest is also desirable and could result in baby hummingbirds. Misting components or a birdbath is also nice. Garden feeders add a touch of beauty and also add an element that will attract the hummer to feed. Use caution with your garden feeder. Placement is important and they are prone to attracting ants, if you are not careful. You can deter this problem by providing a commercial garden feeder that has a built in ant mote. They are very popular. The garden feeder will also need to be cleaned weekly at the very minimum. After you have created your garden, this is a small task to do to maintain a healthy atmosphere for your Garden Hummingbird.
