Attracting Hummingbirds
Lesson 1: THE SECRETS TO ATTRACTING BACKYARD HUMMINGBIRDS
FASCINATING HUMMINGBIRD FACTS
Hummingbirds have a lightning fast metabolism and must eat about every ten minutes. You could say they are the SUV’s of the animal kingdom, with a gas-guzzling consumption equal to about half their weight every day. In fact, if you were to copy the eating habits of a hummingbird, you would have to eat 20,000 calories a day! This means that your feeders and flower garden can be a vital source of food for these animals!
Contrary to what many people think, hummingbirds DO perch quite frequently. They often sit for ten minutes at a time and then lift off to eat once more. While perched, you will be entertained by their preening behavior. They spend a great deal of time keeping their feathers in tiptop shape. Their feet are very weak, however, and they must lift off in flight even to turn around on a branch.
Female hummingbirds tend to have less vibrant feathers than their male counterparts, although females are often slightly larger. Scientists believe this difference in color, which is common in the avian world, helps to protect females from predators while nesting. Dull colors are much harder to spot!
Hummers are not family oriented birds. Their constant need to eat creates a competitive, rather than friendly, temperament. Like the speed of every aspect of their lives, they breed and rear their young swiftly, moving on to live the solitary life.
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