The Harmonious Hummingbird
A beautiful bird to delight the senses
What summer would be complete without the sight of a hummingbird?
In our neck of the woods (eastern Ontario) the ruby throated hummingbird is seen frequently hovering around many types of varieties of flowers and hummingbird feeders. This gentle, loving example of how beautiful nature can be is a very fast flyer and can zip by going forwards, backwards or even upside down if it needs to! Naturally, when feeding it can also hover, and does so with wing beats of up to fifty three beats per second!
Seldom is this bird seen walking and this is because it has very tiny feet which enable it to only waddle or shuffle down a branch, so what it lacks in land apparatus it surely makes up for with acrobatic flying!
The ruby throated hummingbird nests in conifer or deciduous trees, among other places, and is quite used to human contact, however they do keep their distance. The eggs are pea sized and number from one to three. The female takes exclusive care of the babies and a pair may have more than one brood during breeding season. The male has a ruby throat while the female lacks this distinction.
In our neck of the woods (eastern Ontario) the ruby throated hummingbird is seen frequently hovering around many types of varieties of flowers and hummingbird feeders. This gentle, loving example of how beautiful nature can be is a very fast flyer and can zip by going forwards, backwards or even upside down if it needs to! Naturally, when feeding it can also hover, and does so with wing beats of up to fifty three beats per second!
Seldom is this bird seen walking and this is because it has very tiny feet which enable it to only waddle or shuffle down a branch, so what it lacks in land apparatus it surely makes up for with acrobatic flying!
The ruby throated hummingbird nests in conifer or deciduous trees, among other places, and is quite used to human contact, however they do keep their distance. The eggs are pea sized and number from one to three. The female takes exclusive care of the babies and a pair may have more than one brood during breeding season. The male has a ruby throat while the female lacks this distinction.
Bird feeders can bring large numbers of hummingbirds into view
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The hummingbird usually arrives in late May or early June in Ontario; one of its favourite foods is the nectar from the red horse chestnut tree, which blooms in May. On many a morning I have been sipping my tea quietly watching this little jewel go from flower to flower on this magnificent tree; it is at this time of the day when there is a low noise level and one can hear the bird hover from branch to branch, it is just fantastic to see!
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The best way to attract them is to plant trees, flowers and shrubs in a yard. The flower they love the most is the red bee balm. Watching this beautiful little bird feed on these blossoms, shows just how steady they are while moving from flower to flower. They will even drink from the last petal of the bee balm; therefore it is best to refrain from cutting off the heads of the flowers because they are not in full bloom. The hummingbird will also be enticed to a yard by mixing sugar and water and placing it in a red hummingbird feeder; however this will also bring wasps; therefore keep it away from the house and change it frequently.
To make a virtual smorgasbord for the hummingbird, place the following plants, shrubs or trees into a yard; bee balm, summer phlox, zinnia, fuscia, petunias, fox glove, delphinium, cardinal flower, snap dragon, bleeding heart, sweet william, weigela and the red horse chestnut tree. These varieties will keep them coming during the entire summer because the red horse chestnut tree and the bleeding heart bloom in mid spring, while the other perennials listed above bloom from early summer to late summer and annuals bloom all summer of course. |
Tiny feet are used for balance on this perch
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Hanging baskets also attract hummingbirds, and the best hanging basket to get for the shade to attract them is the fuscia, they just love coming to this annual and it looks spectacular as well! For sunny locations get baskets with petunias in them, not only do they come in many varieties, but they smell wonderful! Besides nectar, hummingbirds will also eat spiders and insects so they are beneficial for pollination and insect control in a yard.
Sooner or later this little gem needs to head south for the winter; when they do it is usually in the second week of September, if they are seen past this time it is rare. Before they migrate they feed extensively preparing for the trip by doubling their weight for the rough journey. Mexico or Central America is the destination of choice for the winter until returning the following summer for breeding season. |
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The hummingbird is a most delightful bird to attract to a yard and will undoubtedly bring many exciting moments for children and adults alike! Don’t delay, get planting!
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