Hummingbird Return
Learn:
May 1 - Flowers for the table and hummingbird feeder outside! We look forward to welcoming the hummingbirds back to Wisconsin every spring.
This year seemed to be right on time - my daughter, Marina, saw a hummingbird zipping around where we keep the feeder. They have an excellent memory and will return to reliable feeders for the three-five years of their short lives.
Here in Wisconsin, we only have Ruby-throated hummingbirds. Does this make them even more special? I think so!
Some facts about Ruby-throated hummingbirds:
They migrate each fall to Mexico and Central America where there are abundant nectar sources during the winter.
They don’t just eat nectar! They are also insectivores: small insects like aphids and mosquitoes actually make up 80% of their diet.
Their nest is only about 1” across, and it is stretchy because it is held together by spiders webs!
Hummingbird eggs are tiny - about the size of jellybeans!
Even their weight is tiny: they weigh less than a nickel!
Their wings beat an amazing 53 times per second, and they are able to hover, fly backwards, and even upside-down.
Their legs are too short for them to walk or hop, but they can perch and shuffle sideways on a twig.
Their normal flight speed is 30 mph, but they can get up to 60 mph when diving.
Read:
A truly lovely book is “Hummingbird” by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Jane Ray. The link will take you to Davies reading the book aloud and sharing its back story. It’s also a great intergenerational story that showcases a number of different cultures and family groupings.
Do:
Hummingbirds need a constant supply of nectar to stay alive. Hummingbird feeders are a great way to get them up close.
Fill those feeders with a ratio of 1:4 sugar to water. I mix 1/4 cup sugar into 1 cup water and heat it to form a saturated solution. Wait for it to cool and then add it to the feeder. Change every couple of days if they don’t eat it all!)
(Hint: don’t use the commercially available hummingbird food. It contains red dye, which the birds should not have. Red hummingbird feeders work great!)
Want to attract more hummingbirds to your house? Put up more feeders!