Archives
HUMMINGBIRD MIGRATION IS SIMPLY AMAZING
As we all know, the fall migration of the ruby-throated hummingbird is in full swing. In a few short weeks, most of the flying jewels will have left our yards flying toward their winter home in southern Mexico and Central America. While we do not fully understand this migration, we do know that some will fly nonstop across the Gulf of Mexico to reach the western shore of the Gulf of Mexico. With this in mind, let’s look at some of the things that involved in this amazing flight.
The birds do not migrate in flocks. Instead, each bird must make its own way over the choppy waters of the Gulf.
The shortest distance across the Gulf of Mexico is 467 miles. In order to have enough fuel to successfully make the journey they must carry at last 3/40th of an ounce of fuel shored in the form of fat.
The birds travel at an average speed of approximately 25 miles per hour. A male rubythroat can carry enough fuel to stay aloft for 26 hours and fly a distance of 645 miles. In comparison, a heavier female can stay aloft 24.3-hour flight that covers 604 miles. Biologists estimate each bird must beat its wings 2.7 million times to cross the Gulf of Mexico during the estimated 20 hours it takes them travel from shore to shore.
Rubythroats are benefitted with they are migrating with the aid of headwinds. One the other side of the coin, if the tiny migrants encounter a 20-mph headwind, they literally fly backwards.
When you consider what an amazing athletic and navigation fete this is, you cannot help but wonder how in the world they can do it.
CAN HUMMINGBIRD FOOD BE TOO HOT?
As I sit down to write this blog, the air temperature in my yard is 94ºF and the heat index (feel like temperature) is 115ºF. When it is this hot day after day, hummingbird fanciers are beginning to wonder if the nectar they are serving the hummers visiting their backyards feeding station is too hot to the birds.
According to some researchers, hummingbird nectar can indeed get too hot. Their studies suggest that feeding sugar water heated to 102ºF can adversely affect the hummingbird’s delicate metabolic system.
With that in mind, some experts are recommending that during hot weather hummingbird food should be kept at or just below 100ºF. This can be difficult when each day we are faced with excessive heat. However, if you are concerned that the nectar in your feeders is too hot, you can do a few other things.
One approach is to use feeders that feature nectar reservoirs made of heavy glass. Since glass is an insulator, it will help keep nectar cooler than plastic feeders. Some folks even wrap their feeders in aluminum foil. Supposedly, aluminum foil will block UV rays and actually reflect 98% of the sun’s radiant heat and, therefore, keeps nectar from overheating.
If you have a shady spot in your yard, you can always hang your feeders there. If this prevents you from watching the feeding activities of the birds swarming around your feeders, you might prefer to employ one of the other options.
We do not know much about this supposed problem. With that in mind, let me know if you think the temperature of the nectar in your feeder poses to hummingbirds in your yard. Also, if you try one of these or other means to try to keep nectar cooler, please let me know.
BACKYARD SECRET – HUMMINGBIRDS NEED TO EAT INSECTS TO SURVIVE
While we have known for some time that hummingbirds cannot survive on a diet of sugar water and/or nectar alone. These tiny birds must also capture and eat insects to maintain a proper balance of proteins and nutrients. That being the case, have you ever wonder how many insects a hummingbird must consume in a day?
Dr. Gregor Yanega of the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center has provided us with the answer. According to Dr. Yanega, “Hummingbirds need the equivalent of 300 fruit flies a day to survive.”
FEMALE RUBY-THROATED-HUMMINGBIRD; Photo credit: Terry W Johnson
RUBYTHROATS ARE AFFECTED BY HIGH TEMPERATURES
For the first time this year, the temperature soared to 90-degrees Fahrenheit in my neck of the woods. There is no doubt in my mind the thermometer will record temperatures this high and above before the end of summer. When temperatures reach this level, they can have a deleterious impact on ruby-throated hummingbirds. Here are a few things you can do about it.
One the obvious thing that you will notice is the tiny birds will feed far less frequently than normal during the heat of the day. They try to keep themselves away from the beating rays of the sun as much as possible. Like us, they can overheat. Consequently, between less frequent visits to our feeders they perch in the shade provided by trees and shrubs. If your yard is devoid of such shady cover and there is none nearby, they may not appear at you feeder at all during the heat of the day.
Hummingbirds have such a high rate of metabolism, they must feed every 10-15 minutes through the day, consequently, not feeding as often as usual can result in serious metabolic problems for the birds.
Another problem facing the birds is, more often than not, nectar plants stop or produce far less nectar during the heat of the day. Consequently, in order to meet their dietary needs, rubythroats often face having to rely more heavily on our feeders for food.
With that in mind, we can all plant more nectar plants and keep our feeders stocked with fresh nectar. In addition, if you do not have any trees in your yard, it might be a good idea to plant one. Such an addition to your yard will provide ruby-throated hummingbirds with much-needed shade long before it will do the same for you.
Let’s all do whatever we can to help this favorite backyard neighbor deal with the heat.
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HUMMINGBIRD BEHAVIOR
In Middle Georgia, during the months of May and June we see very few hummingbirds feeding at our feeders. We feel fortunate to see one or two at a time visiting our feeders at this time of the year. Those that see three or four feel extremely fortunate.
In 1997, a number of individuals reported seeing significantly more hummers in late May through early June. Theas quickly as the birds appeared they vanished long before backyard hummingbird populations explode after July 4. This phenomenon has continued to some extent each year since. However, nothing compared to what has happened in our backyard this year.
Up until May 22 from one two three ruby-throated hummingbirds were using a feeder we hung beside our deck. Then on May 22, we spotted eight birds. A few days later, we were seeing 16 or birds at one time. To meet the demand for nectar we added another feeder. We are now feeding the hungry birds eight or more cups of nectar per day.
I have a theory as to why large numbers of the birds have been showing up at Monroe County feeders for at least 25 years. However, before I can flesh this theory out, I need your help to determine whether this is a local event or something that occurs across the entire state.
With that in mind, I would greatly appreciate it if you would let me know whether you have witnessed such an event in your neck of the wood too. If you do take the time respond to my request, please let me know your county of residence.
Hopefully, your information will help hummingbird watchers across the state better understand the behavior of this special bird.
THE FLOWER FANTASY AT PANEOLA FARMS – DREAM
There is no better time to attend a festival dedicated to flowers than spring. One of the most unique flower festivals staged in Georgia is The Flower Fantasy at Paneola – Dreams.
This annual event will take place at Paneola Farms situated close to Ft. Valley. The dates of 2023 edition of the festival are April 22-23.
The Magnolia Garden Club sponsors the event. Proceeds will benefit the Garden Club of Georgia Scholarship Fund.
The centerpiece of this special event is a circa 1865 home adorned with some of the most unique floral arrangements you will ever see. Each room has a different theme that boggles the mind.
If that is not enough, you must tour the gorgeous grounds surrounding the house. The highlights of your leisurely stroll are visits to a number of gardens, full of a wide variety of flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other wildlife. 
Two of the presentations scheduled for this year’s event should be of interest to backyard wildlife enthusiasts. Mary Ann Johnson from Growing Old will talk about the benefits of pollinators, what to plant in your garden, and how to care for them. This presentation will take place Saturday at 2 pm.
I have the honor of speaking Sunday at 2pm. The name of the presentation is Attracting Hummingbirds—A Recipe for Success.
For more information about this special event, Google… The Flower Fantasy at Pineola Farms – Dream.
I hope to see you there.
WEIGELA – AN ATTRACTIVE SHRUB FOR HUMMINGBIRD FANS
If you are searching for an attractive shrub that attracts hummingbirds, you should give serious thought to buying a weigela (Weigela x Florida); it produces a crop of long-lasting, red, trumpet-shaped blooms. The blossoms grow singly and in clusters.
The shrub’s blooming period extends from late spring into summer.
This shrub is capable of becoming 6 to 8 feet tall and 9 to 12 feet wide. However, none of the weigelas my wife and I have grown in our Middle Georgia yard has ever grown that large.
The only weigela we have planted also goes by the name Old Fashioned Weigela. This variety bears red flowers. A dozen or more different varieties of weigela are on the market. While they may attract hummingbirds, I personally cannot vouch for them.
Weigela produces the most flowers when planted in full sun, however, it also grows in partial shade. Once this shrub is established, it is quite drought-tolerant.
If you have a problem with deer pruning your plants, you will be pleased to know that weigela is not high on the white-tailed deer’s list of preferred browse plants.
RUBYTHOATED HUMMINGBIRDS RETURN TO GEORGIA IN MARCH
March is the month ruby-throated hummingbirds return to Georgia.
Over the years, countless Georgia hummingbird enthusiasts have told me that they saw the first hummingbird of the year hovering in the spot where a hummingbird feeder hung outside their kitchen window a year earlier.
With that in mind, if you do not already have a hummingbird feeder hanging in your backyard, there is no better time to hang a feeder in your backyard than right now.
The first ruby-throated hummingbirds arrive in South Georgia in late February and early March. On the average, from there, they make their way northward at a rate of about 23 miles per day. By March 20, the birds reach Middle Georgia. The first northbound birds arrive in North Georgia in late March and early April.
The first hummingbirds to arrive are males; the females make an appearance about 10 days later.
Let me know when the first male and female rubythroats arrive in your backyard.
