Some experts say they have a memory. Their lifespan is
approximately 5 to 7 years. It seems, whatever the reason, they
are
attracted to vegetation that is colorful, abundant, and highly
visible. Hummers also hunt for insects and small spiders that will
become trapped in the flowers. Tree sap is also important to their
diet.
True fuchsias seem to be their favorites. Nicotiana, impatiens,
trumpet
vines, honeysuckle, and petunias have also held their interest.
Anything they can get that long beak down into and secure the nectar
as well as the insects caught there. Bright colors, mostly shades
of
red, and plants that are visible out in the open seem to be more
successful than the smaller gardens.
A 4 to 1 ratio is in our feeders (4 parts water to 1 part sugar).
although
some sources will say that 5 to 1 and even 7 to 1 ratios are just
as
attractive to hummers, and will still closely match the sugar content
of
naturally produced nectars. We use 50 pounds of sugar through the
summer.
All agree it is not healthy to color the water. Most feeders are
red which
in itself will attract the little birds.
Ants, bees, and wasps have posed problems for us and the hummers.
There doesn't seem to be any good solutions. We have tried bee
guards, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, and moving the feeders...
to no avail!
The more flower gardens we make in the yard, though, seems to cut
back on the bees and wasps, who are more attracted to those natural
sources of nectar.
There seems to be no magic answer for the removal of our feeders.
Most experts promote leaving feeders up until the last hummer has
flown south. The presence of feeders does no retard the timing of
migration. The natural migratory urge (which is triggered by day
length and biochemical changes in the hummer itself) is too strong
for the presence of feeders to make a serious impact. Hummers that
linger a little later at the feeders may be a second batch of babies
that mey need a little more time to put on adequate fat for the
long
trip ahead.
Most begin the migratory move southward in late August and the
first week of September. The males leave first, while the females
and young hummers stay behind to fatten up for that long trip to
Mexico and Central America.
Despite its tiny size (most average 4 inches in length, including
their
beak), the ruby-throated hummingbird migrates more than 2,000 miles,
crossing 600 miles of the Gulf of Mexico to winter in Central America.
Before migrating, the ruby-throated hummingbird stores a layer of
fat
equal to half its body weight.
