Prepare your feeders for the upcoming Fall migration of hummingbirds. These energy-intensive little critters require lots of fuel to travel the great distances. Some hummingbirds travel from their nesting place as far north as Canada or Alaska to southern points in Mexico and Central America. Studies show that a hummingbird, at the weight of a nickel, can pack on high energy fat to double their body weight for the trip. They depend on the hummingbird feeders and other nutrition in our yards.
It may seem simple, but finding a feeder and filling it with “healthy” sugar water for hummingbirds is a little more intricate. Find a feeder that is modest in size – too much nectar can go bad before it’s consumed. Next, mix up the sugar water solution accordingly. Most recommendations call for one part table sugar to four parts water. Boil the water and stir in the plain white sugar until dissolved. Use only about a cup of solution in your feeder at a time – store the rest in the fridge. Finally, hang your feeder where you can enjoy it. Hummers can digest nectar in about twenty minutes so they will often revisit your feeder throughout the day.
Watch as the hummingbirds feast and continue on their journey. Add another feeder or two to attract their friends and family. And sit back and enjoy the show.
For more information,
The Hummingbird Society: https://hummingbirdsociety.org
BOOK: Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Hummingbirds
[8-13-2018]
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Has anyone ever tracked, tried to count, the hummer populations that migrate over and stop on Bolivar Peninsula? If so, would love to do something in our Lazy Gardener & Friends Houston Garden Newsletter (see link on right side of screen). Email me at [email protected]. Thanks!!!
I saw my first hummingbird today.