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 have just'special' sugar, or honey.
completed the 20 hour, 450 mile non-stop trip acrossThe following is a list of 'hummingbird friendly' flowers,
the Gulf of Mexico. They go on an eating binge beforevines and shrubs:
they make the flight, increasing their body weight fromPerennials:
25 and 40 percent. Normally they eat between 3 andBee balm
5 times an hour, just to maintain their weight and stayButterfly weed
alive. By the time they arrive here they will have usedColumbine
up that surplus of stored energy and be more thanCosmos
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 note of
flowers. They return the favor by pollinating theold fashioned timelessness to your garden that will be
flowers. The flowers preferred by hummingbirds haveas pleasing to you as it will be to the hummingbirds.
a sugar content of about 25%. They do not feed fromPlant your garden early so they will be in bloom when
those with a sugar content of 10 to 15%. Most of thethe 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 is preferable toseason.
all others. If your feeder is not bee-proof you mayOK, you are now ready for the return of the
attract more bees than hummingbirds.hummingbirds. There is nothing to do now but wait...
Your feeder should have a perch. Hummingbirds willand enjoy.