Hummingbirds Poised for Missouri Comeback

By Jim Low - It's time to get out nectar feeders and
binoculars.

Jefferson City, Mo. - infoZine - Missourians who treasure
hours spent watching ruby-throated hummingbirds should get
out their nectar feeders, binoculars and cameras. If they
have not seen a hummingbird yet, they will soon.

The hummingbird migration tracking Web site www.
hummingbirds.net shows a wave of tiny feathered jewels
moving slowly northward across North America. The wave's
leading edge crossed the Show-Me State's southern boundary
around April 1. The first Missouri sightings came from
southeast Missouri and the St. Louis area April 2.

Hummingbirds.net is the brainchild of Lanny Chambers of
Fenton. He updates the migration map daily with reports
from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean and from the
Gulf of Mexico to Canada. He has been tracking ruby-
throated hummingbird migration since 1997 and relies on
reports from visitors to the Web site for information about
first sightings of the spring.

The earliest sighting reported for Missouri in the past
nine years is March 26. The latest is April 9. The birds
typically are seen about 3.5 weeks sooner in southern
Missouri than near the state's northern border. In the
past, the period between southern and northern Missouri
reports has varied from 18 to 34 days. This year, first
sightings in southeast and northeast Missouri occurred on
April 2 and April 4, respectively.

The only hummingbird commonly seen in Missouri is the ruby- throated, which ranges from the Atlantic Coast to the Rocky Mountains. Both sexes have iridescent, emerald-hued plumage on their backs. Mature males have a jewel-like red patch, called a gorget, on their throats.

Ruby-throats are easy to see, even in many parts of
cities. They are strongly attracted to anything colored
red, orange or yellow, which they associate with their
primary food, flower nectar. Commercial or home-made
feeders with a splash of these colors will attract hummers.

A nourishing substitute for natural nectar can be made by
dissolving one part granulated sugar with four to five
parts boiling water. Let the mixture cool before filling
feeders. Artificial color is not needed as long as the
feeder has red, orange or yellow on it.

Artificial nectar feeders are most attractive to hummers
when located near wildflowers or cultivated flower gardens.
Having trees where the tiny birds can perch helps, too.

Placing feeders near windows makes watching the birds
easier. If you notice a bird repeatedly flying in a U-
shaped pattern near a feeder, you are witnessing the male
ruby-throat's courtship display. Somewhere nearby he and
his mate will build a walnut-sized nest of lichens, spider
webs and plant fluff. These often are constructed 15 to 20
feet above ground, near the tips of a branches where they
are concealed by leaves.

Female rubythroats incubate their two white, peanut-sized
eggs. The eggs hatch in about two weeks. Fledglings leave
the nest two to three weeks later.

Although most of hummingbirds eat mostly nectar, they do
need protein. They get this by eating insects and spiders.

Other interesting hummingbird facts

Their wings beat 75 times a second.

They can fly up to 60 mph.

Their wing muscles are larger in proportion to their
bodies than any other birds.

They are the only birds able to fly upside down and
backwards.

In spite of weighing only about one-eighth of an ounce,
some ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate nonstop across the
Gulf of Mexico each spring and fall.

They live up to nine years, much longer than most animals
their size.