| The name brings smiles to our faces. | | | | Attract Hummingbirds to your backyard. Begin by |
| Hummingbird. You smile and can imagine this tiny | | | | setting out a few feeders filled with nectar. The |
| bird darting from flower to flower, hovering in | | | | hungry birds will search them out and if you have |
| space, in its iridescent splendor. Every year we sit | | | | shrubbery for nesting - they may just stay the |
| on the patio and watch as several males establish | | | | entire summer. If you supply nectar every year, |
| their territories in our backyard birding areas. | | | | these nesting families will come back year after |
| There always seems to be one who thinks all the | | | | year. You will have established your own |
| feeders are for him and him alone. After a while, | | | | hummingbird summer home. Now plant bee balm, |
| it seems like a well laid battle plan. One | | | | honeysuckles, trumpet flowers, hummingbird |
| hummingbird feeds while another draws the bully | | | | vines, and other flowering plants. Hummingbirds |
| away - over and over again. | | | | not only feed on nectar but also eat small insects |
| The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is the most | | | | that are on these flowers. We have several |
| common in the US and normally the only | | | | families that return every year and nest inside our |
| hummingbird east of the Mississippi river. This tiny | | | | wooden fence. That is the next pleasure - |
| bird is also an amazing migratory bird. Each fall, | | | | watching them raise a family! |
| hummingbirds leave the US and as far north as | | | | The nests of these birds are of course also very |
| Canada to begin an arduous journey to Central | | | | small. Hummers like nesting sites safe from heavy |
| America for the winter. Yes, these cute fragile | | | | winds and rain. Tight shrubbery protected from |
| looking birds fly non-stop hundreds of miles across | | | | the wind is a great place for hummers to build a |
| the Gulf of Mexico each and every year. If you | | | | nest. There is a commercially available |
| live along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, help | | | | Hummingbird House Kit designed, tested, and |
| these fancy flyers out by supplying nectar. | | | | proven to attract the Ruby as well as other |
| Hummers need plenty of stored energy for the | | | | hummingbirds, depending on where you live. |
| tiring flight across those open waters. They enjoy | | | | These kits are economical and once a female |
| the tropical paradise for winter and as the season | | | | nests on one, she will return to the same spot |
| changes they begin heading north - again across | | | | year after year. Many people enjoy these nesting |
| those open waters. | | | | kits because they afford a better view of the |
| These weary travelers begin arriving as early as | | | | nesting family and baby hummingbirds. |
| the end of February along the coast and could | | | | So get ready, clean your feeders, ready the |
| use some easily accessible food supplies to | | | | nectar, and enjoy these amazing birds. |
| replenish themselves. Many of these birds can be | | | | Try this for an easy nectar recipe that works |
| found resting and stocking up on food for the | | | | great for us: |
| rest of their journey. By the end of March they | | | | Use 1 part sugar to 4 parts water or 1 cup sugar |
| begin showing up as far north as Kentucky, | | | | to 4 cups water |
| Oklahoma, and South Carolina. April finds these | | | | Bring water to a rapid boil |
| travelers along the Canadian border. By the end | | | | Cool and add to hummingbird feeders |
| of May the Ruby will have established their | | | | Seal and refrigerate unused nectar |
| summer nesting areas from Florida to mid Canada | | | | Keep the nectar fresh, change every 3 to 4 days |
| and as far west as the Dakotas. Having arrived, | | | | to prevent spoiling and attract the most |
| these birds search out nesting sites near readily | | | | hummers. |
| available food sources. | | | | |