Hummingbirds Come Home

One of our visitors from last year-a bit blurry, but you get the picture!

If you live in the Midwest like I do, it's almost time for the return of one of my favorite critters...the hummingbird. Our feeders have been cleaned and filled, waiting to lure in the exhausted and hungry travelers. Amazingly these tiny birds generally migrate clear to Mexico where they spend the cold winter months. Then they travel back to our area in early spring. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the species that populate our back yard, zooming around like tiny jet fighters.

And fighters is the perfect description for them. They're quite territorial and will chase away other hummingbirds to claim an area. More than one feeder is always a good idea.

If you'd like to see these amazing critters in action, get your feeders out now! You don't need to buy the fancy red stuff to fill them, either. A simple recipe to use is one part white sugar, four parts water. No need to add red food coloring, as most feeders already carry the attractive red color. Clean feeders and put in new solution every few days to discourage growth of bacteria.

Consider creating a hummer-friendly yard. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation hummers love mimosa, cardinal flower, salvia, hollyhock, trumpet creeper, and a host of other colorful nectar-producing flowers. As an added bonus, this can attract butterflies, too.

I'm looking forward to seeing my little buddies again.

So is my little window-watcher, Bogey!

Feeding Frenzy

This is a female ruby throated hummingbird at one of our feeders. While the photo's not the greatest (see yesterday's blog), it does demonstrate some pretty heavy activity that's begun in the last few weeks.

In August and September, hummingbirds start a feeding frenzy. They're eating as much as possible to prepare themselves for the winter migration south. Amazingly, these tiny birds, weighing a mere tenth of an ounce, will fly all the way to the Central American area...and then return here in the spring!

This is my favorite time to watch hummers. They become very territorial, guarding feeders, chasing each other, and chattering indignantly to let the world know who's in charge. Sometimes we see dozens of them buzzing around like little jet propelled fighters.

One little guy actually got tangled up in one of our trees. I heard him chattering. He'd try to fly but seemed caught in a branch, actually hanging down from it when he wasn't struggling to get away. It was obvious he wouldn't survive if something wasn't done.

The branch was higher than I could reach with my hand, so I took a mop and pushed up gently against the bird. It dislodged him enough that he could fly away. My husband said the likely culprit was fishing line. Birds like to use it in nests, but they can become entangled. Thank goodness for a happy ending in this case!

If you have feeders it's critically important now to keep them fresh and filled. Those little guys will need a lot of energy for their long journey.

And if they remember your yard as hummer friendly...just like Lassie, they'll come back home!

Feedin' Time

If you live in Missouri like me, here's a reminder. Get your hummingbird feeders out because the little guys are on the way. A nice rule of thumb for our area is to put out feeders on Tax Day, April 15. And the recipe for the nectar is simple: one part of sugar dissolved in 4 parts water. You don't need to buy the fancy red store stuff. Just remember to clean the feeder and refill every few days.

Last year we had dozens of hummers. I haven't seen one yet this year, but migration charts indicate they should get here any day. Once they arrive, I hope to take some pictures to post (we'll see how my new camera does) along with information about one of the most fascinating birds on earth.

I'm watching the window and waiting!