Hummingbird Couples

Along a wooden fence a mass of honeysuckle vines entwined themselves winding and turning in every conceivable way to display their beautiful aromatic fragrances. No stone is too hard, no height to far to reach, no soil too poor for the roots to embed for the determined honeysuckle vine. Like pale yellow trumpets their blossoms hang and every gentle breeze carries their captivating aroma.

Much more determined to survive than the most expensive rose and far less work necessary for their aroma to be enjoyed is the simple vine draping over a man-made divider. If one could pluck each blossom and extract tis luscious fragrance royalty would pay a ransom to wear it. Yet it twines its strong shoots in meadows, across bridges and along creek banks. If one pulls the center out of the blossom and taste the sweet nectar it might give a small sample of what the tiny hummingbird enjoys daily.

As I work in my garden I can't help but notice its tiny wings constantly fluttering. It sticks its long beak inside each blossom to capture what man cannot, the nectar that gives and sustains its life. Though it is the smallest of all birds it accomplishes what others cannot. Man or any other bird cannot feast for days on the nectar of the honeysuckle. Not only can it feast on each blossom but it can remember each and every blossom it has visited. It can also remember how long it will take that blossom to fill again with the tasty liquid. Should one visit many blossoms only to smell its fragrance remembering every single blossom and know how long it would be before that blossom would be filled again would be impossible for man.

The hummingbird has always been an amazing little bird. It flutters in mid-air it supping the sweet liquid inside trumpet-shaped blossoms. It's wings are so powerful they can do all sorts of things. They can fly up, down, backwards, forwards and can rotate in a complete circle if need be. They can even stop in mid-air, fly side to side, or upside down if they choose to do so. Yet its tiny feet cannot walk upon the earth like most birds. It chooses instead to perch upon a twig or a feeder. God has given this little bird such amazing talents and it uses every one of them daily. Man has many more talents but does he use them like the little hummingbird? If a painter could paint with oil on a canvas it would be impossible to capture all of the colors on the wings of this little bird. Yet the hummingbird flutters its tiny wings to display all the colors to anyone willing to watch.

Hummingbirds are the tiniest birds in the entire world and they can hear much better than humans. Though they drink from the most beautiful blossoms on earth they cannot smell the hypnotic fragrances at all. They can hear much better than any human and see much farther. Its weight is about the same as the penny.

There are two tiny birds living in a tree across from the wooden fence now covered with honeysuckle vines. The female is larger than the male and her name is Beijia or Bea Bea for short. The males name is Chee Chee. They are both busy pollinating the tubular flowers by rubbing their tiny foreheads and face in each little blossom as they gather the nectar. Willingly they display their skills of flying to us daily.

Beijia is building her nest in which she will lay her tiny eggs. Chee Chee is busy chasing away all other male hummingbirds from his claimed territory.

"This is very hard work!" Bea Bea sighed. "My wings are getting weary. I believe I will search for some small soft bugs to eat. The protein will give me more energy so I can keep working on my nest." She chirped. Flitting her tiny wings this way and that way her eyes scoured over the ground beneath her. She normally ate at least seven times an hour to keep up her energy level.

Of course Chee Chee was no help at all preparing the soft nest for the eggs. Her wings rotated in a full circle and quick as could be she dove down, snapped up a bug. Flying up side down, she returned to her perch for a quick snack. The couple spent most of their time perching on twigs or tree branches.

Bea Bea was getting everything ready for her new babies. She knew most young birds do not survive the first year but she was going to do her best to make it happen. She was aware that baby hummingbirds would not be able to fly and would need to stay in the nest for at least a month. During this time she would teach them how to find food until their wings were strong enough to fly. She ruffled her feathers and shook herself vigorously watching for any feather that might fall. She was collecting as many as she could find to line her nest. It has to be soft and comfortable for the tiny eggs she would deposit and keep warm for weeks.

"I've had four or five other nest and with each one, I think I've made a better one than before. My old ones are so weathered and worn I think it is just better to start a new one. This might be my last nest and I want it to be very special.

"You do know that five or six years is the life span of most hummingbirds. I'm almost to that point and I'd like my children to add beauty and splendor to this world when I'm gone." She chirped hoping Chee Chee might hear.

Chee Chee was busy lapping up nectar from a red trumpet vine with his tongue and paid very little attention to Bea Bea's words.

"These tiny hairs on the end of my tongue sure are good at helping me lap up this nectar." He said as he rushed to another blossom.

"Thirty percent of my weight is in my flight muscles and I've got to keep them strong!" He exclaimed as he fluttered his way from blossom to blossom. He really had no interest in Bea Bea's nesting talk.

"My father lived for ten years and I hope I will live much longer than he did." Chee Chee chirped loudly.

"Well that is because you males never help out at all with the children. We have to care for the babies and that takes years off ones life!" Bea Bea replied rather flustered by Chee Chee's nonchalant behavior. "You just go ahead and vent your aggression out on other males because I'm sick and tired of your egotistical behavior." She continued as she carried a piece of cotton to her nest. "I'm glad we do not mate for life. We females need a change of venue." She winked her tiny eye in humor but was very serious in her words. "The next male I find will have many iridescent feathers. I just find them to be so attractive!" She chirped.

"Did you know that I can lap up this sweet nectar at about 13 licks per second? I'm pretty good at this." Chee Chee boasted proudly. "I can also fly at a speed of thirty miles an hour. When I'm diving I can dive up to sixty miles an hour. I might not be as big as some of the other birds but I'm faster and better. I don't care that they can sing and I can only chirp." He huffed as his ears picked up the cheerful notes of other songbirds in the area.

"Well if you keep eating eight times your body's weight, you might not live ten years. You might get too fat to fly!" Bea Bea replied with a smile.

"I think I'll fly down to Mexico and visit some family this fall. It will be a good fly but I've flown over 2,000 miles twice a year for many years now. I think I am still up to it." Chee Chee said fluttering his wings rapidly. "I've got to double my weight before migration." Chee Chee's wings rotated in a full circle and he perched himself upon a small twig. "Yep I'm on my way to see Alfredo my cousin in good old Mexico." He continued.

"Just because you have a longer beak doesn't make you a better bird." Bea Bea snapped.

Weeks passed and Bea Bea finished her nest just in time to lay her eggs. Later two tiny hummingbirds broke open the shells and emerged into the world to join the circle of life.

God knows that the hummingbird has 940 feathers and He knows how many hairs are on the head of a person at all times. As I bury my hoe into the soil I wonder how many hummingbirds lie beneath the soil. Thousands of years have passed since God created the world. How many bodies of mankind lie mixed into this soil I now use to plant my garden in? Will my body one day become just a lump of soil in someone's garden? If God loves the tiniest of all birds how much greater is his love for mankind?

The honeysuckle vine if not controlled will cut through a tree and eventually over-power killing it. It is so strong and determined to show its simple beauty it will choke the life out of a giant oak tree smothering it to death. The honeysuckle in the thicket has no thorns yet it is more powerful than the thorny rose-bush.

The bright red glass hummingbird feeder hangs in the backyard. It is designed for only the hummingbird's beak. Another larger bird feeder is filled with seeds to calm the hunger of the wild birds that come to visit. All the birds sing beautiful sounds but the hummingbird can only chirp. Why did God not give a beautiful song to such a beautiful little bird? Probably for the same reason He did not give the honeysuckle vine or the trumpet vine thorns. Each thing and person is given a portion or talent. Each is expected to use what he has to complete the circle of life. Are you using yours like the tiny little hummingbird?

Hummingbird Migration

Certain  humming bird journey ways vary from growers and habitats, but there are several common factors linking relating the various species exodus behavior.

Every humming birds emigrate due to hormonal changes within their body's that happen to be departing from variations inside period of daylight. This means the birds when the perfect time to fly south for the winter
Whenever they move to depends upon the individual bird, however in general, the majority of humming bird’s wintertime in Mexico. A few winter time as far north as southern California in to Florida, and some journey all the way down Panama.
 
Forecasting for the large journey they create certain they will pack on their own filled with nectar and insects. Such a tiny bird should be strong to create such a long journey Also, when humming birds get this amazing journey, they like to move alone. Different birds or ducks, traveling in huge communities wouldnot raise their own possibilities of success.  Only one bird is able to supply from a flower  at one time, there for eating for each bird to feed would be a  worry  and waste precious time. Also, humming birds  are too  small that  hunters  typically disregard themselves in any case , therefore  traveling in  huge  groups  presents no  additional  protection.Becausehummers journey , however, doesn't prove that you won t watch a few hummingbirds  at a time; after all, several  can be  traveling at the same time  and also  oppose ways upon their journeys.

They usually journey through the day and also rest up  at nighttime apart from  unusual conditions such as that of  the ruby-throated humming bird,  which will  travels   during the Gulf   of Mexico. It takes a few daylight hours to them to create it across, and so the birds need to fly all night up to land has been reached.

A journey from northern United States into the  gulf coast would take anywhere from around 5-10 days depending on how usually they will take the time to relax .If they travel down to Panama it usually  requires almost   two weeks . Humming birds stay in warmer climates   until time to fly north again and mate.

This springtime migration is often a slightly faster because the females will be ready to get start nesting. Just as before, the hummers pack upon a number of body weight  for theflight, scheduling their own fading so they comes when the flowering plants are first blooming. Males are delivered first and after those females anywhere from around a couple of days several days to some days later. Males declare   their own places and wait for the females, performing fantasy journey demonstrates to trap them into their area. Humming birds spare no time in beginning their own living method.

When fall  moves all over ,  they begin  to fly south again, as well as the method  repeat over and over again Such  hummers are always  in peril  when traveling: lack of food, storms, undetermined  predators, windows....  All of them need to anticipate everything, and the distances they fly receive them the best respects considering the way little and susceptible these are.

The Beautiful Hummingbird

One of the tiniest birds around is the hummingbird. From the tip of its beak to its tail, it spans about three and a quarter inches. And it hardly weights anything at all.

Most birds will feed by either alighting on a branch and searching for insects in the tree or landing on the ground and foraging amongst the insects and plants found there. Hummingbirds, on the other hand, are most noted for its ability to feed in the air as it hovers above plants containing nectar. It uses the amazing speed of its wings, which beat at around 55 times per second, to remain in a stationary spot above or adjacent to the plant.

As you might imagine, all of this hovering takes a tremendous amount of energy and exertion. In fact, with a resting heartbeat of more than 600 beats per minute, which can go to over 1,000 beats per minute during high speed activity, hummingbirds have one of the highest metabolic rates of any birds. And this metabolic rate is one reason why, during the day, humming birds are always constantly feeding. As nighttime approaches, their metabolism gradually slows down allowing them to get a good nights rest. If not for this quirk of evolution, the hummingbird could not survive as it would have to feed 24 hours a day.

Hummingbirds are of great use to many plants who take advantage of the hummingbird's eating habits in the form of pollination. As the hummingbird flits from flower to flower, pollen from one plant sticks to the bird's bill. It is then carried along on the base of the bill until the bird reaches the next plant where it may be deposited. And since they feed so much, hummingbirds greatly help to speed along the pollination process.

Many people are attracted to humming birds by their colorful red and green plumage and frenetic activity. They are one of the more interesting birds to observe as they feed. In fact, many homeowners try to attract them to their garden areas by populating their gardens with bird feeders designed specifically to attract hummingbirds. Instead of flower nectar, homeowners will either buy or create their own nectar. Other homeowners, especially those who love plants, will simply plant flowers that hummingbirds will be naturally attracted to such as black locust, jewelweeds, and others.

It may take a while to initially attract hummingbirds to your garden. But, once they find either your feeders or your plants, you can be sure that they will visit your garden often.

Humming Bird Watching

Humming birds can fly so very fast that you can be looking right at one and not see it. They can be a blur at times and it is a real gift to get a chance to see one. When you see a humming bird it is usually a surprise. A nice surprise.
I was standing on my porch when a humming bird came zipping by. The humming bird took a pause so I was able to get a good look at it.. The object was tiny, blurred and very fast. It paused over a flower and that is when I saw a glimpse of the humming bird. Although my view of the humming bird was very short I saw what a lovely creature it was. I could hear the tiny bird humming with its wings going very fast. I think that is how the humming bird got its name.

The tiny bird had a red throat and an iridescent green back with a forked tail. Since it looked like this I figured out it was a male humming bird: possible a ruby throated humming bird. The bird was very tiny, about the size of

Humming birds are the smallest birds with needlelike bills that are built just right for sipping nectar out of flowers. The males are very colorful like with most birds possible to attract themselves to predators to protect their families. When a humming bird flies the motion of their wings is so rapid that you can see them clearly. Humming birds look like a blur as they fly past you. When they stop to eat they hover in one spot and that makes them easy to see. Humming birds have a diet mostly of nectar from flowers but they will eat an occasional insect. I think the brightly colored flowers are the humming birds favorite flower. Red flowers are the absolute favorite flower of the humming bird.

Most humming birds live in the tropics. But you can see them in the western hemisphere as well.My humming bird that I saw buzzed past me with a gentle whirring sound as it went by. Then it hovered over a white petunia looking at me for just a moment. Then he whizzed away to parts unknown. I usually see several humming birds in my flower garden every summer. So far I have seen just one. I welcome them here by planting flowers I think they will like. Flowers with deep flowers for the humming bird to put their long needle bill down into to get the nectar out are the humming bird's favorites.
      I love to sit by and watch the humming birds. Some people put out humming bird feeders to attract humming birds to. I think flowers attract humming birds just fine.

Controlling Hummingbird Feeder Pests: Ants, Bees, And Wasps

The same sugar solution that attracts Hummingbirds to your feeder, will also be attractive to ants, bees and wasps. Not only will they drink, they will also contaminate the nectar and sometimes even keep the Hummingbirds from using the feeder. Ants  getting inside the feeder will drown and contaminate the nectar as their bodies decompose.

As for bees and wasps,  I have seen bees and wasps at my feeder so thick that the Hummingbirds couldn't feed at all. Thumping them with a rolled up newspaper seemed to help a little, but every time I thumped one, it wasn't long before it was replaced by another. Besides being a little too risky, after a while it begins to take a toll on your feeder! So, let's examine some alternative possibilities to controlling pests at your hummingbird feeder.

Keep the ants from finding your Hummingbird feeder. Using a drip less feeder is one way to help keep the ants from locating your Hummingbird feeder. Bottle-type feeders have a tendency to drip. When the air that's trapped above the nectar heats up, it expands and forces the nectar out through the feed ports. Basin or saucer type feeders are designed so that they are less likely to drip.

Keep the ants away from the Hummingbird nectar. Okay, the ants have found your feeder, go to plan B. The best way to keep ants away from the nectar is to use some sort of "ant guard". An ant guard is a barrier that's placed between the ants and the Hummingbird nectar. These aunt guards are built into some feeders in the form of an ant moat that can be filled with water to keep the ants away from the nectar. But they can also be purchase separately and added to a feeder. They usually consist of a plastic cup about 3 inches in diameter that fits tightly around the hanger wire above the feeder. Once the cup is filled with water the ants can't get to the nectar.

You can also make your own ant moat using the plastic cap from a spray can. Punch or drill a hole in the cap to run the feeder hanger wire through, then use hot glue or silicone sealant to seal the hole and make the lid water proof so you can fill it with water.

How to control  bees and wasps. Buy a feeder with bee guards. Some Hummingbird feeders come equipped with plastic mesh bee guards. Unfortunately, a lot of these Hummingbird feeders will also be prone to dripping which will undermine the effectiveness of the bee guards.

Try moving the feeder. Sometimes just moving the Hummingbird feeder a few feet will trick the insects into thinking that it's gone and they won't find it. If your insects happen to be too smart to fall for this one, try taking the feeder down for a day or two until they quit looking for it. The Hummingbirds won't give up as quick as the insects, so once you hang it back up the Hummingbirds will find it again.

Give the insects their own feeder. Personally, I would rather go back to thumping them with a rolled up newspaper before I conceded and tried this trick, but it's a technique used effectively by lots of people, so I thought it appropriate to mention here. You will need two Hummingbird feeders, one for the bees and wasps and one for the Hummingbirds. Bees and wasps are more attracted to higher concentrations of sugar, so in their feeder use a nectar ratio of 1 part sugar to 3 parts water. In the Hummingbirds feeder, instead of using the standard 1 to 4 ratio,  use a ratio of 1 part sugar to 5 parts water. This ratio although not as sweet as the 1 to 4, will still be good enough for the Hummingbirds , but not nearly as attractive to the bees and wasps as the feeder with the 1 to 3 ratio. Give the bees and wasps a few hours to attach themselves to their feeder then move it away from the Hummingbird feeder and hope they follow.

Buy a basin or saucer-type Hummingbird feeder. These type feeders are pretty much drip proof, so they're not as likely to attract insects in the first place. Also, the nectar level will be lower and out of reach to the insects, but not out of reach to the Hummingbirds with their long tongues. My favorite basin-type feeder is the HummZinger,  which can be purchased at most places that carry a good selection of Hummingbird feeders. It's kind of expensive, but has several features that might warrant a high price. The HummZinger has patented Nectar guard tips which are flexible membranes attached to the feed ports that prohibit entry from flying insects, but allow Hummingbirds to feed as usual. The HummZinger also has a built in ant moat that will stop crawling insects from getting to the nectar. This Hummingbird feeder can solve your ant, bee and wasp problems all at the same time.

How To Make Hummingbirds Happy?

Hummingbirds are the smallest birds of the 10,000 Bird Species. They fly backwards, up, down, sideways and upside down. They fly at up to 90 wing beats per second and their little heart beats up to 1200 times per second. This is why they require enormous quantities of sugar and protein, mostly provided by insects and nectar bearing flowers. Unlike any other bird they have a needle-like bill. Hummingbirds are friendly and inquisitive, easily attracted to nectar feeders and flower gardens.

Hummingbird Feeders come in a lot of different colors and styles. If there were a perfect feeder for the Hummingbird it would be as follows:

1. It should hold at least 8 to 16 ounces of nectar in a clear receptacle.
2. A red feeder is the top choice.
3. Should have multiple feeding stations and a perch at each station.
4. It should be made out of glass and/or plastic and have a flat bottom.
5. The refill opening should be wide enough for easy filling.
6. The feeder should be easy to clean and should have a hook for hanging.

Hummingbirds are extremely territorial and some are aggressive over their territory. If you have a lot of Hummingbirds in your yard, you should think about getting a second feeder and locating it a good distance from the other one. This can cut down on battles amongst the birds and be better for you to be able to observe them. If you can hang more than one feeder on your post, you should not hang a seed feeder or suet feeder on the same post as your Hummingbird Feeder. Usually Hummingbirds do not like to feed around other birds.
                                                             
This is just a little information about Hummingbirds and their feeders. I hope you enjoy and it will be of use to you. Thank you for your time.

Creating a Hummingbird Garden

If you enjoy hummingbirds and would like to see more of those little guys zipping around your yard, you may want to set up a hummingbird garden to attract more of them. A hummingbird garden can be enjoyed by the entire family. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Location

A hummingbird garden can be as large as several acres or as little as a window box. You will most likely want to position the garden in a place where you can see it in order to enjoy them. You will want to give them both sun and shade so that they can fly around in the sun but take a rest in the cool shade when they need to.

Flowers and Trees

Hummingbirds like bright, colorful, tubular or trumpet shaped flowers filled with nectar. Red and fuschia flowers in particular are favorites among hummingbirds. Since hummingbirds have no sense of smell, you don't have to worry about what the flower smells like. Some other flowers often found in hummingbird gardens are honeysuckle, azalea, petunias, morning glory and delphinium. You may want to check with your local nursery to see what else does well in your area since there are hundreds of different plants that attract hummingbirds. If you can find plants that bloom various times of the year this will help to keep the hummingbirds around your garden longer. You may want to also keep some hummingbird feeders around for the times that the flowers are not in bloom. Some trees that are good for a hummingbird garden include bottle brush, eucalyptus, and willow trees. These trees can provide nesting material for them to use in their nests.

Benefits

A great benefit to a hummingbird garden is that there is minimal maintenance. You will not need to use any pesticides in your garden since hummingbirds love to eat bugs. They love to eat small bugs like aphids, gnats and spiders. They will even eat all the bugs in a web, plus the spider and then they will use the web for their nest. Hummingbirds themselves benefit the garden since they are pollinators themselves. While sipping nectar from a flower, parts of their bodies become covered in pollen. They then wind up depositing the pollen on the next flower they visit.
                                                            

If this is your first attempt in attracting these little flyers, it might be awhile before they show up. However, if you are patient they will find you in time and provide your garden with some beauty and fun.

Hummingbird Feeding Guide

There is a sense of fulfillment that comes from a yard or garden that is pleasing to the eye and one always feels a sense of satisfaction when guests comment on the lovely flowers, beautiful landscaping or creative and inviting layout. But perhaps the greatest sense of accomplishment comes when nature gives her own nod of approval.

As much as I enjoy sitting under the shady tree in my tiny suburban backyard and sipping a drink or hosting a barbecue for friends and family, my most critical and sought-after visitors aren't people. They are the small creatures that dart about the tree's limbs, drink from my humble waterfall or, in the case of a few frogs and a turtle, dip beneath the waters of my tiny pond.

I can think of no greater sign of landscaping success than to play host to Mother Nature and I relish every buzzing, chirping and croaking she brings to my little yard. It is a chorus of approval, subtle over the sound of traffic that surrounds me, yet awesome in its ability to allow me to forget just how close I live to the hustle and bustle of a city. But the sound I relish the most, the one I try to entice to my minuscule little paradise year after year, is the buzzing hum of hummingbird wings.

To lure these elusive little gems to my yard required patience, timing and a little bit of research. With the exception of southern and western states, most places in the US enjoy only transitory visitors; migrants on the way to and from breeding grounds during the Spring and Fall. Knowing when they'll be traveling through your neck of the woods goes a long way to keeping them around longer or to inviting them to consider your yard as an ideal place to build a tiny nest!

Another helpful element is a garden which showcases flowering plants, shrubs and vines of fairly specific types. Hummingbirds have a preference for nectar that is particularly sweet and will bypass flowers that don't offer up candy at about 25% sugar content.

There is a broad selection of artificial feeders available to entice these diminutive visitors to your yard. The most commonly available and modestly priced consist of a glass reservoir and red plastic feeding ports (often with yellow accent). These models work quite well but, in my personal opinion, lack in aesthetics what they make up for in savings.

At the other end of the spectrum are your high-end (and high priced) hand blown glass models. These items are exceedingly attractive and, if not overdone, can add a touch of elegance to any garden. My personal favorites rest at the end of stems which can be neatly "planted" to look a little bit like big glass flowers. I recently bought a pair of these for about $25 each.

My most expensive feeder ran me about $70 and is an exquisite glass globe. The feeding port sports a red glass "flower" with a glass stem on which a hummingbird could perch to feed were it so inclined. For all its beauty, the price really was an extravagance and I'm worried sick about breaking the thing every time I replace the water (which is often).

Whatever feeder you elect to purchase, what's really important isn't the look or style but what you put in it. As stated earlier, hummingbirds are particular feeders and favor a fairly specific sugar content. Though there are commercial mixes available, you can give a hummingbird everything it needs to fuel up with just some ordinary table sugar and water.

When mixing your own nectar, use only cane sugar. Add 1/4th cup of sugar for every one cup of water. Boil the mixture until the sugar fully incorporates, let it cool and then add it to your hummingbird feeder. If you want to put out a hummingbird feeding station early or late in the migration season, consider a richer 1/3rd mix (one cup sugar to every 3 cups water). Hummingbirds expend substantial energy during migration and the richer mix will help offset the scarcity of natural sources of nectar early and late in the season.

Replace the water in your hummingbird feeder every 3-4 days or sooner if it appears cloudy. Clean the feeder well when you perform a water change. Only use cane sugar and never use artificial coloring. Do not use "raw" sugar. Despite being natural, it contains iron which is harmful to the birds. Never use honey as a sweetener as it can lead to bacterial infections in your hummers.

NEVER use artificial sweeteners in your hummingbird feeder. Hummingbirds do not eat nectar for sustenance. The nectar from flowers, or from your hummingbird feeder, serves as fuel to allow a hummingbird to hunt for its real food which, as with many birds, consists of insects and spiders! It needs the energy from your feeder to power its insanely demanding metabolism. Putting a hummingbird on a diet is more likely to kill it as it won't have the energy to hunt for food and, believe it or not, a hummingbird is only hours away from starvation at any time!

So there you have it, a quick introduction to the attraction, feeding and enjoyment of hummingbirds. Do yourself and Mother Nature a favor and setup a feeding station for these amazing creatures today. May your gardens be full of them and other creatures sure to enrich your lives.

Hummingbird Behavior

Mating and Reproduction

Hummingbirds court in the air but, contrary to common myth, mate on a perch. Males arrive first to establish a territory and food supply. They fly a courtship display when the females arrive, calling with a chirping sound and displaying his brightly colored gorget. Many species perform a flying dance to impress the female.

Once mated, the male takes no part in building the nest or raising the brood. The female lays a clutch of usually 2 eggs over a day or two, some as small as a coffee bean. The hatchlings are blind and have only a little down and a short bill.

A female may have more than one nest and may be building a new nest while still caring for an early brood. A third brood is not unheard of. Fewer females will be seen at the feeder while the hatchlings are in the nest as she feeds them insects she catches on plants or while flying (hawking).

The Rufous and Calliope hummingbirds have been observed to build a new nest on top of one from the year before. As many as four nests stacked up have been seen.

A hummingbird nest is about the size of a golf ball and about 1-inch deep. Spiderwebs are used to attach the nests to tree limbs.

Grooming

Hummingbirds care for their feathers using their bills and claws. They obtain oil from a gland near their tail and groom each feather. Head and neck are groomed by using their claws like a comb or by rubbing against a twig.

Hummers sunbathe by facing the sun and fluffing their feathers out. They may also spread their neck and tail or spread one wing and then the other to catch the sun. Water baths are also a favorite of hummers and they will bathe in shallow pools, dipping their chins and bellies, splashing with their wings, or tossing water with their bills onto their backs. Hummers will also fly though a sprinkler, or fluff out in the rain to catch the water. They will perch and groom after bathing.

Traplining

Hummers feed by sight and will generally check out anything to see if it is a source of food. Our hummers seem determined that our wind chimes will someday be edible. Many birds follow a regular route through their territory checking out the food sources several times daily. This behavior is called traplining. Having a constant source of food on the route, either a hummingbird garden with successively flowering plants or reliable nectar sources, will go a long way in keeping hummers at your house all season.

Torpor

Torpor is a state in which a hummer's metabolic rate is only one-fifteenth that of normal sleep. Body temperature may drop by 20 to 50 degrees F and breathing may stop for a time. The bird's heart rate may drop from over 1000 beats per minute to as few as 50. Hummers go into torpor to conserve energy, generally overnight, and in cooler temperatures as a survival mechanism. Often hummers which may appear to be dead are merely in torpor and will readily "recover" if disturbed.

Predators

Hummingbird nests are raided for eggs and chicks by snakes, large birds, and some mammals but adult hummingbirds are not regular prey. The most common danger is the family pet that gets lucky enough to ambush one. Birds, such as owls, hawks, roadrunners, and other large birds have been known to take hummers as have frogs, spiders, and preying mantises.

Spider webs also pose a hazard. Webs are very strong and sticky and the bird may become entangled and may actually be wrapped by the spider as just another large "insect".

Bees and wasps may attack a hummer and a single sting may be enough to kill the bird because of its small body.

There are reports of frogs capturing a hummingbird and one source reports a case of a hummingbird being taken by a BASS!

Though one would not consider plant burrs to be predators, there are three known cases of hummingbirds in Washington, DC, being fatally snared by burdock burrs in Rock Creek Park when they were not strong enough to pull the burrs from the plant.

Migration

Hummingbirds are solitary travelers and the migration is separated by age and gender. Males begin moving north about three weeks before the females and depart the summer range before the females and juveniles. Some reasons are offered by experts for this behavior but the reason is more guesswork that solid fact.

One reason for the later departure north for the females is that a later trip will help insure that more food sources will be available. Hummers do not pair up and the loss of a few males will be less damaging to the species survival than the loss of females.

Conversely, the early departure of the males opens up the feeding area, usually highly protected by the males, for the new brood. The juveniles are the last to leave and migrate to the winter area without adult guides.
                                                         
It is generally believed Ruby-throated hummingbirds fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico in the spring and possibly in both directions. This trip is believed to take a hummer 18 to 20 hours. This is a remarkable journey and certainly the trip carries the extra danger of adverse winds with little margin of error for the tiny travelers. Birds lose a quarter to half their body weight during migration. Scientists suspect the birds navigate by stars when traveling at night.

All About Nectar and Hummingbird Feeders

If you have never had the enjoyment of seeing a fluttering hummingbird drinking nectar from a flower or feeder on a warm, sunny day you are surely missing one of nature's most awe inspiring pleasures. And, simple, plastic hummingbird feeders are the perfect way to attract these little but fascinating birds to your front or backyard all springtime and summer long.

Hummingbirds actually possess a lengthy, forked tongue that's used to lick nectar as many as thirteen times every second either from a blossom or a feeder and acts as a trough pulling the nectar in. Even though hummingbirds do eat some bugs and pollen, sugary nectar includes ninety percent of their overall diet.

Basic sugar water using four parts hot water and one part normal, white sugar boiled for about two minutes are all that's required to attract groups of hummingbirds to your feeders.

Once the neighborhood hummingbirds find out where your feeders are located they will come back time and time again. The birds can quickly become dependent upon the nectar you've been providing, especially as the cooler, autumn months approach when they must double their size to get ready for the long journey south for the winter.

Make sure you keep your hummingbird feeders full and cleaned out on a weekly basis, or even more frequently if you notice a black mold begin to develop. The mold that forms in feeders with nectar is harmful to the birds and has to be removed immediately.

Use some vinegar and hot water (one part white vinegar, four parts water) plus a bottle brush to access the crevices. Clean and rinse out the feeders thoroughly several times to totally remove all of the vinegar. In the event that you don't have a bottle brush handy, use some dry rice or a handful of clean pebbles and shake the feeders intensely to mix the solution.

Never use honey or any kind of artificial sweeteners in your hummingbird feeders since this encourages the growth of possibly damaging bacteria. Reddish food coloring, which has long been utilized in feeders to attract hummingbirds along with other birds, is also not recommended. Instead, use a red feeder or suspend a red-colored ribbon or a few beads close by to attract these small avian wonders.