The Buzzing Life of Hummingbirds PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS, SHANE HARRIS, JOHN DENNEY & MARTHA TUCKER
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s a child, it was a startling yet delightful make up a small portion of their diet. moment seeing a hummingbird for the first Hummingbirds are best seen and easily attracted time. From that first glimpse, it seemed there to feeders. Many types of feeders are commercially was no way that tiny thing darting between available, and most work well. A feeder that has a bee flowers was a bird. It looked more like a giant bee guard works best because it keeps bees from using the buzzing back and forth than a typical slow moving bird. feeder. If too many bees are attracted to the feeder, And whoever heard of a bird hummingbirds will not use it. drinking nectar from flowers Feeders are filled with and sugar water from hanging nectar solution that is either feeders? Looks like a bee, eats purchased or made at home. like a bee and even sounds like For the home-made solution, a bee, but called a hummingmix one part table sugar to bird? four to five parts warm water. Hummingbirds might be The warm water makes the hard to understand, but their sugar dissolve faster. Allow uniqueness is appreciated the solution to cool before and admired by many. Their filling the feeder. There is no return each spring is highly evidence that hummingbirds anticipated, evidenced by all need any nutrients other than the hanging feeders – red, pure, white table sugar. ready and waiting. Never use honey as a Ruby-throated substitute for sugar in the hummingbirds, the most solution. Hummingbirds common species in Alabama, cannot digest honey. They will usually return to Alabama eat a honey-based solution, but from mid-March to mid-April they will soon die from lack and stay until late summer and of nutrition. Honey may also early fall. They overwinter in transmit a fungus that is lethal Central America and make the to hummingbirds. journey back and forth each Hummingbirds are attracted year. to the color red, but artificial Guarding the Food Supply The male Ruby-throated food coloring does not have hummingbird is recognized by Above: Male hummers are highly territorial to be added to the sugar water and will prevent other birds from using it; his deep red throat patch and solution. Most hummingbird Facing Page: Female hummingbirds lack the dark green back. The female feeders have red on them, red throat of the males. looks like the male except she which attracts hummingbirds. has no red on her throat and Once they find the feeders, has a lighter green back. hummingbirds will remember where they are located During their daily activity, hummingbirds burn a and will return often, even year after year. tremendous amount of calories and usually feed about According to Wesley Anderson, our Alabama four times an hour. They have tubular tongues that Cooperative Extension System forestry and wildlife extend deep inside flowers to reach nectar. Insects also specialist, red dye in food has been a controversy since
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