 Make
a Hummingbird Habitat for Mom
This Mother's Day(ARA) - From the first
breadcrumbs she helped you toss on the lawn for the birds, your
mother has nurtured your love of the natural world around you.
This Mother's Day, why not help her foster a closer relationship
with Mother Nature by creating a backyard habitat for one of her
favorite creatures?
"Just as every mother is unique and wonderful,
hummingbirds are unlike any other species of bird," says John
Schaust, chief naturalist of Wild Birds Unlimited. "Beautiful
and delicate, they are also capable of amazing feats of strength
and endurance, just like Mom. With a few simple touches, you can
create an environment that will draw hummingbirds to Mom's
backyard throughout the season."
The 320 species of hummingbirds live only in the
Americas, and only about 16 species can be found in North
America. In most areas, the tiny wonders arrive in the south as
early as January or February, and make their way north by April
or
 May.
Because hummingbirds use so much energy flying, they need to eat
up to twice their weight in nectar or other foods each day. The
hummingbird's voracious appetite creates a great opportunity for
humans to enjoy their company.
"All birds, including hummingbirds, have basic
needs for their habitat," says Schaust. "They require food,
water, shelter and a place to raise their babies."
To create Mom's hummingbird habitat, first
decide if her backyard meets the requirements of shelter and a
place to nest. Does the yard have mature trees or are there
trees nearby where the birds could nest? Hummingbirds will only
nest in trees, and each nest is a golf-ball-sized concoction of
lichen, thistle down and spider webbing.
Next, tackle their nutritional requirements.
Nectar makes up a good portion of the hummingbird's diet. In the
wild, they draw nectar from flowers using their long, slender
tongues. You can create nectar for them by mixing one part
regular table sugar to four parts boiled water. Be sure not to
boil the water with the sugar already added. Mix in the sugar
after the water has come to a boil. Allow the nectar to cool
completely before filling your feeder and refrigerate any extra.
Never add food color to your nectar or use artificial
sweeteners, honey or fruit juice to feed your hummingbirds.
 Choose
a hummingbird feeder based on its appeal for the birds, not on
how well it fits into Mom's outdoor décor. Wild Birds Unlimited
sells a 16-ounce polycarbonate feeder designed based on the
advice of hummingbird experts. The feeder is easy to fill, hang
or post mount, is dishwasher safe and equipped with a built-in
ant moat to keep away one of the perennial pests of hummingbird
habitats.
Hummingbirds also eat small insects for protein.
You can further enhance Mom's hummingbird habitat by placing
overripe fruit in hanging baskets near your feeder. This will
attract small fruit-loving flies that hummingbirds like to dine
on.
The next step is to add a hummingbird-friendly
water feature to the habitat. Hummingbirds prefer to fly through
moving water, rather than perch on the edge of a bird bath. So
consider installing a birdbath with a drip feature, or placing
an independent dripper - such as Wild Birds Unlimited's Lily Pad
Dripper - on a tree or pole near where the hummingbirds eat.
Finally, create Mom's place in the habitat by
arranging a comfortable lawn chair and shade umbrella in a quiet
spot where she'll be able to watch the hummingbirds visit. For
more ideas on creating a backyard habitat for hummingbirds and
other wild feathered friends, visit
Wild Birds
Unlimited.
Find out about hummingbirds.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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