You have probably ever been close enough for a hummingbird’s movements to be able to see its movements when it suddenly flies in to drink nectar from a flower or feeder. Since I haven’t had feeders to attract them in many years, I am always delighted when any of these tiny birds suddenly fly towards me looking for nectar from azaleas and other flowers.
Did you know that the little birds that look like human-powered helicopters also have long bones that are used to attach flight feathers? You will notice that the wings of these little birds can fly in many directions – backwards, forwards, and even upside down if you are able to observe them closely. While it hovers to gather fuel, its body remains stationary while the wings move at a rate of 78 beats per second. It is obvious that hummers must work hard to keep themselves going. They must eat every day to accomplish this. They eat nectar from flowers and feeders as well as small insects like beetles, wasps, gnats, and mosquitoes.
Just recently, I discovered that the shape and size of each type of hummingbird’s bill matches the shape of the flower it feeds from. It extracts sweet liquid from flowers and pollinates them with its long tongue. It gathers pollen traces that are transferred to the next flower.
One day, a friend called to inform me that a man was waiting at his house to visit one of her feeders. He wanted to capture one to allow him to band it and track its whereabouts. I ran over to him and watched as he gently captured one, measured it, weighed it, and banded it. I was able to feel its heartbeat as he helped me place it in my hand. It was such a thrilling experience. The photos of the little bird I held in my hands are precious to me.
A friend discovered a tiny nest of hummingbirds with two eggs the size of peas while on vacation. It was attached to an old tree branch. It was attached to a tree branch. We all carefully approached it so that we wouldn’t disturb it. I discovered that hummingbirds only lay two eggs. The young birds spend several weeks in the nest after hatching.
We noticed how ferocious feeders can be. I often saw a hummer guarding its territory on a clothesline or tree branch. The hummer watched as another one tried to steal nectar from the tree branch and chased it away.
These birds must also be vigilant against predators. Hummingbirds can be killed by the praying mantis, for example. They are always at the feeders and ready to attack birds.
It is fascinating to see hummingbirds and even more fun to learn about them. So that I can continue watching them, I will be putting my feeders to use in the spring.
The post Hummingbirds are amazing to watch was first published on The AndalusiaStar-News.
