Getting Ready for the Hummingbird Migration… Part 2 of 2

For those of you living in the northern states, Februaryfeed while flying, but offering a perch saves them
may seem like a strange time to be thinking aboutvaluable energy.
hummingbirds, but residents of Florida and the GulfYour feeder should have ant moat to prevent
States know that these tiny intercontinental travelerscontamination of the nectar.
first start reappearing then.When making nectar for your feeder, use only white,
After wintering in Mexico and Central America theygranulated sugar. Do not use prepackaged
are going to be hungry by the time they reach ourhummingbird food, brown sugar, turbinado sugar or any
shores – very hungry!, especially those who‘special’ sugar, or honey.
have just completed the 20 hour, 450 mile non-stop tripThe following is a list of ‘hummingbird
across the Gulf of Mexico. They go on an eating bingefriendly’ flowers, vines and shrubs:
before they make the flight, increasing their bodyPerennials:
weight from 25 and 40 percent. Normally they eatBee balm
between 3 and 5 times an hour, just to maintain theirButterfly weed
weight and stay alive. By the time they arrive hereColumbine
they will have used up that surplus of stored energyCosmos
and be more than ready to eat again.Dahlia
The first to arrive will be those who spend theFoxglove
summer in the southern states where the flowers theyFuchsia
depend on for survival are already in bloom. During theGeranium
next few months they will keep coming, not in waves,Hollyhock
but one at a time. Hummingbirds do not migrate inRed hot poker
flocks. They are solitary flyers. If you look up at theAnnuals:
right time and have excellent vision, you will see themNasturtium
flying low, at about treetop level, stopping frequently toPetunia
feed. The last to arrive will be those who spend theBulbs, corms and tubers:
summer in the northernmost states and Canada.Tuberous begonia
By May they will have returned to all their summerIris
homes throughout North America, usually returning toVines:
the same gardens and feeders they left in the fall,Cardinal climber
when their autumn migration began. Hummingbirds whoHoneysuckle
survive their first precarious year have a life span ofRosary vine
between 3 and 4 years, so you can expect to seeTrumpet vines
your old friends returning year after year.Shrubs and trees:
The expansion of civilization into urban areas hasAzalea
reduced the hummingbirds feeding grounds, so it isButterfly bush
important for those of us who have a garden area, orFuchsia tree
space to hang a hummingbird feeder, to hang a feederStrawberry tree
and plant the right flowers in anticipation of their return.Many of the plants listed above are hearty ‘old
Bees and hummingbirds take nectar from the samefavorites’ among gardeners. They will add a
flowers. They return the favor by pollinating thenote of old fashioned timelessness to your garden that
flowers. The flowers preferred by hummingbirds havewill be as pleasing to you as it will be to the
a sugar content of about 25%. They do not feed fromhummingbirds. Plant your garden early so they will be in
those with a sugar content of 10 to 15%. Most of thebloom when the hummingbirds return.
flowers that hummingbirds pollinate are red, bright pinkClean and inspect your feeders. Clean them with a
and orange in color. For this reason, the bestmild soap solution and rinse them 3 times before
hummingbird feeders are bright red. When choosing are-hanging them. If they need replacing, buy well made,
feeder, remember these points:bee-proof feeders that will last for years, not just one
A ‘bee-proof’ feeder with a red base isseason.
preferable to all others. If your feeder is not bee-proofOK, you are now ready for the return of the
you may attract more bees than hummingbirds.hummingbirds. There is nothing to do now but
Your feeder should have a perch. Hummingbirds willwait… and enjoy.