PET
CLASSIFIED'S
| HUMMINGBIRDS IN YOUR BACK YARD |
INTERESTING FACTS GEORGIA HOSTS A TOTAL OF EIGHT SPECIES OF HUMMINGBIRDS DURING THE YEAR. THE RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, REFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, AND THE MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD. ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD AND BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD. THE RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD IS THE ONLY SPECIES OF HUMMINGBIRD KNOWN TO NEST TO GEORGIA AND WEIGHS ABOUT AS MUCH AS A FIRST-CLASS LETTER. THE FEMALE BUILDS THE WALNUT-SIZED NEST WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM HER MATE. THIS PROCESS CAN TAKE UP TO 12 DAYS TO COMPLETE. THE FEMALE LAYS TWO EGGS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BLACK-EYED PEA. IN GEORGIA, FEMALE RUBY-THROATED HUMMERS PRODUCE UP TO TWO BROODS PER YEAR. NESTS ARE TYPICALLY BUILT ON A SMALL BRANCH THAT IS PARALLEL TO OR DIPS DOWNWARD SOMETIMES REBUILDING THE NEST THEY USED THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD IS THE SMALLEST BID FOUND IN NORTH AMERICA. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD HAS THE LONGEST MIGRATION OF NORTH AMERICA HUMMERS MORE THAN 3,000 MILES! FEEDING HUMMINGBIRDS HUMMINGBIRDS NECTAR CAN EASILY BE PREPARED AT HOME. THE BEST SOLUTION CONSISTS OF 1 PART SUGAR TO 4 PARTS WATER ( THIS MIRRORS THE SUGAR CONCENTRATION OF THE NECTAR FOUND IN FLOWERS). BOIL THE WATER FOR 2-3 MINUTES BEFORE ADDING SUGAR. COOL AND STORE IN A REFRIGERATOR UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO USE IT. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ADD RED FOOD COLORING TO YOUR HUMMINGBIRD FEEDING SOLUTION . HUMMINGBIRDS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE RED COLOR OF THE FEEDER AND DO NOT PREFER RED NECTAR TO CLEAR. SELECT A FEEDER THAT IS EASY TO CLEAN AND DOES NOT DRIP. IN WARM WEATHER, CHANGE NECTAR EVERY 2-3 DAYS OR BEFORE IT GETS CLOUDY. PERIODICALLY CLEAN FEEDERS MAKING SURE THAT MOLD AND BACTERIA ARE REMOVED, FEEDERS CAN BE EASILY CLEANED SOAKING THEM IN A SOLUTION OF ONE PART BLEACH AND 10 PARTS WATER. THOROUGHLY RINSE THE FEEDERS BEFORE USING. KEEP AT LEAST ONE FEEDER UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. YOU CANNOT KEEP HUMMINGBIRDS FROM MIGRATION BY LEAVING FEEDERS UP DURING THE FALL AND WINTER SEASONS. HUMMINGBIRDS MIGRATE IN RESPONSE TO A DECLINE IN DAY LENGTH NOT FOOD AVAILABILITY. MOST OF THE RARE HUMMINGBIRD'S FOUND IN GEORGIA ARE SEEN DURING THE WINTER. ANTS CAN BE KEPT AWAY FROM FEEDERS BY INSTALLING AND "ANT MOAT' BETWEEN THE FEEDER AND THE STRICTURE ON WHICH THE FEEDER IS HUNG. SMEARING PETROLEUM JELLY OR AUTOMOTIVE GREASE ON THE WIRE ABOVE THE FEEDER CAN ALSO HELP STOP ANTS. YELLOW JACKETS CAN BE TRAPPED USING A SIMPLE YELLOW JACKET TRAP MADE FROM A 2- LITER SOFT DRINK BOTTLE. CONTACT NON-GAME ENDANGERING WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOR DETAILS. BEES, WASPS AND YELLOW JACKETS CAN BE DETERRED BY SMEARING COOKING OIL ON THE SURFACE OF THE ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS SURROUNDING THE FEEDING PORTS ON YOUR FEEDERS. REPORT ALL SIGHTINGS OF RARE HUMMINGBIRDS TO AS WELL AS ALL HUMMINGBIRDS SPOTTED FROM NOVEMBER- MARCH TO: GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION, NONGAME- ENDANGERED WILDLIFE PROGRAM, 116 RUM CREEK DRIVE, FORSYTH,, GEORGIA 31029 ( 478) 994-1438. YOUR SIGHTINGS WILL HELP UNLOCK SOME OF THE FASCINATING SECRETS ABOUT GEORGIA'S HUMMINGBIRDS. GARDENING FOR HUMMINGBIRDS HOMEOWNERS ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN ATTRACTING HUMMINGBIRDS COMBINE THE USE OF FEEDERS AND HUMMINGBIRD FOOD PLANTS. PLAN PLANTINGS SO THAT NECTAR- PRODUCING PLANTS ARE BLOOMING THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON. ALSO PLANT FLOWERS THAT ATTRACT SMALL, SOFT-BODIED INSECTS, BECAUSE HUMMINGBIRDS WILL OFTEN USE THESE POOR-NECTAR PRODUCING PLANTS AS INSECT FOOD PROVIDING WINTERING HUMMINGBIRDS WITH EXCELLENT ROOSTING COVER ON COLD WINTER NIGHTS. SOME EXCELLENT PLANTS TO ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS ARE (DENOTES WILD PLANTS). HERBACEOUS PLANTS LANTANA, RED-HOT POKER, HOLLYHOCK (SINGLE BLOOMING VARIETIES), TURK'S CAP, FIREMAN'S HELMET, PENTSTEMON, PETUNIA, ZINNIA, CLEOME, FOUR-O'CLOCK, DELPHINIUM, CORAL-BELLS, DAY LILY, GERANIUM, PHLOX, SALIVA, IMPATIENS, FOXGLOVE, NASTURTIUM, BLEEDING HEART, CHASTE-TREE, CHINA BERRY, CARDINAL FLOWER, COLUMBINE, HONEYSUCKLE, YELLOW COREOPSIS, MOURNING GLORY, CORAL MEXICAN SUNFLOWER, SNAPDRAGON, JEWELWEED, RED BAIL, INDIAN PINK CROCOSMIA, CANNA LILY BUTTERFLY WEED, BEEBALM, COCKSCOMB, DAIHIA, GLADIOLUS, LUPINE, CENTURY PANT, BLAZING STAR (LIATRIS) , BUCKEYE, POWDERPUFF, MEXICAN CIGAR, SHRIMP PLANT, HIBISCUS, ROSE OF SHARON, TREE TOBACCO, ABELIA, WEIGELA, BUTTERFLY BUSH, FLOWERING QUINCE, AZALEAS, WINTER HONEYSUCKLE, BUTTONBUSH. TREES BLACK LOCUST, MIMOSA, TULIP POPLAR, REDBUD,CRABAPPLE, ORCHID TREE, HAWTHORNE, RED HORSE, CHESTNUT, VINES CROSS VINE, TRUMPER CREEPER, CORAL,JASMINE, CYPRESS VINE, SCARLET RUNNER-BEAN. |
