Hummers (Better Known as Hummingbirds)

July 24, 2012

At the end of last summer, I decided I was not going to feed my Hummers this year. (Yes, they are mine, because every summer they return and hover in front of the windows in my sunroom to let me know they are back.) Last summer I could not keep their feeders filled fast enough. I was fixing solution nearly every day and fighting to keep the ants and wasps out of their feeders--not to mention the Downey Woodpeckers that enjoyed a sweet drink during the day. The bigger birds can't get their beaks in the little holes, so they pull the little plastic flowers off that are supposed to protect the opening. It was an ongoing battle.

I started this summer vowing not to give in, even when they were hovering at my windows to announce their arrival. However, I caved. They kept coming to windows and letting me know they were still here. I felt sorry for them with the temperatures as hot as they are and everything drying up. You guessed it: I am now back to filling feeders every other day. I have to admit, I do enjoy observing them while they are feeding.

If you are interested in learning about hummingbirds, the Library has many resources you may find helpful. Read about gardening for hummers, hummingbird poetry, and birdwatching. For a one-stop shop, try Dan True's book, Hummingbirds of North America: Attracting, Feeding, and Photographing.

Alice T.
Buckner Branch