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Hints to Keep Hummingbirds Hovering!

© Naomi Mathews

Hummingbirds are truly the epitome of perpetual motion. When watching them up close, one wonders how they are able to keep their tiny feathered wings fluttering at about 75 beats a second without literally wearing them out. Consider also that when the male hummingbird performs his display dive to impress a nearby female, his wing speed increases to 200 beats a second!

True miracles of Mother Nature, hummingbirds almost defy all the rules of gravity. Their whirring wings can rotate 180 degrees and are always in motion, taking them upward and downward, backward and forward, or just allowing them to hover in the same position when sipping sweet nectar.

While observing them as they dart and hover, seeking or sipping nectar, think of their itsy-bitsy hearts beating about 600 beats a minute. Their fast heart rate seems almost inconceivable for such a minuscule creature. Further, when hummingbirds are resting, they take 250 breaths per minute. Quite frankly, one could question if hummingbirds ever take the time to rest!

Is it any wonder that hummingbirds need such a high calorie food supply on a daily basis?

It is well known that their main food source is nectar, for it is very high in calories and provides them with instant, constant energy. Aside from nectar, they will also eat very soft insects or spiders they might find on flowers, OR -- they'll also catch these small insects as they fly through the air!

In recent years, hummingbird feeders have become very popular among hummers and those folks who like to attract them to their gardens, decks, balconies, or patios. Feeders will readily attract hummingbirds if they are placed in an area where they can be easily seen by them as they whiz by.

A Few Helpful Hints About Hummer Feeders

If you want to attract hummers to a nectar feeder, look for a feeder that is easy to fill and also one that will be easy to clean. Since you will be responsible for keeping the feeder clean on a regular basis, select a style that isn't so fancy that it will be difficult to clean. Selecting a simple, smooth style will be easier than one having a lot of extra nooks or little holes to clean several times a week. And yes -- hummingbirds are definitely attracted to feeders that are at least partially red. However, it is NOT advisable to use red food coloring in the nectar mixture, as these dyes may sicken your hummers.

The copyright of the article Hints to Keep Hummingbirds Hovering! in Butterfly Gardening is owned by Naomi Mathews. Permission to republish Hints to Keep Hummingbirds Hovering! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.