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Ruby
Throated Hummingbirds
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(Archilochus
colubris)
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Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are the type of hummingbirds most often seen in Spring Creek Forest. Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are just one of the 18 or more species of Hummingbirds that visit Texas
each year . We will give you a lot
of info about about these birds but first we will give
you the 3 pieces of info you probably really want.
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When
should I hang my feeders for the Spring and Fall migrations? |
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Hummingbirds
pass through our area (Spring, Texas) from the early part
of March until the end of April. There are always a few
'early birds' and a few stragglers so if you hang your
feeders on March 1 and take them down on May 15th you
should cover all of them. Since the birds follow the blooming
schedules of flowers toward the north, a late cold winter
or an early warm spring will alter this schedule slightly. |
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The
Autumn migration is also affected by the weather. We can
begin seeing Hummers here in August and that can continue
into early October. The greatest concentration of birds
is usually in September. |
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There
is an old myth that you need to remove your feeders at
a certain time to keep from interrupting the fall migration
of Hummingbirds. The basis of the myth is the idea that
Hummingbirds may stay near a good food source longer than
they should and ultimately freeze. This is not true. You
can keep your feeders up throughout the winter if you
like. There are a few hummingbirds that do normally winter
in our area due to our normally mild winters. |
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What
should I put in my feeders? |
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Use
this recipe for artificial nectar:
1. Boil water. (This kills bacteria and lengthens the
life of the nectar.)
2. Mix one part sugar (the white cane sugar you already
have) with 4 parts water.
Mix in the sugar while the water is still hot so it
will dissolve better.
Let the nectar cool before filling the feeders so you
do not harm the Hummingbirds.
Keep the extra nectar refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Clean and refill the feeders every few days since bacteria
that can be harmful to the birds will grow in the nectar.
In hot weather, clean and refill the feeders every 2
or 3 days.
The
1-4 ratio approximates the 20% sugar content that exists
in the flower types that Hummingbirds prefer.
Do not add red food coloring or honey to the nectar.
The food coloring is thought to aid in the growth of
harmful bacteria and is not necessary to attract Hummingbirds.
The honey ferments very quickly and is harmful to the
Hummingbirds.
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Where
should I hang my feeders? |
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Hummingbirds
(like most birds) have almost no sense of smell so visibility
is the most important factor. The first place you should
think about hanging a feeder to successfully draw hummingbirds
is near flowers or a garden that has plants they normally
visit. Aside from that, just put them where the birds
will see them. It is OK to put feeders near a window
so you can see them. You may want to put something on
the window like stickers or dark tape so the birds do
not think it is a clear flight path. This will keep
them from flying into the window and harming themselves.
If you are putting out multiple feeders, try to space
them far enough apart so that a single dominant bird
cannot control them all. Male Hummingbirds will typically
"own" a feeder by perching nearby and driving
off other birds. You can space your feeders to make
it more likely a single bird cannot control them all.
Another approach is to add even more feeders and make
the site so inviting that a single dominant male cannot
deal with all the birds who are drawn to your feeders.
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Range: |
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The
Ruby Throated Hummingbird is found in the US and lower
portions of Canada from the Great Plains to the Atlantic
Ocean. They are not found west of the Great Plains. In
the far west, the Roufas species is often mistaken for
the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. |
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Migration: |
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These
Hummingbirds migrate in the Fall from the Northern US
and Canada southward to their winter homes in Mexico and
Central America. In the Spring, the migration reverses
as the birds return to nest and breed in the north. A
few of these birds do spend the winter and breed along
the coast of the Gulf of Mexico during mild winters.
Male hummingbirds start their migration earlier than the
females. They are the ones most likely seen here in August.
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Physical
Characteristics : |
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Both
male and female Ruby Throated Hummingbirds are Emerald
Green on thier backs. The males have very bright Ruby
Red throats while the females are white in that area.
The males have forked tails with no White on them. The
females have rounded tails with white feathers along the
tips. Another difference between the males and females
is that the females are larger than the males and have
longer bills.
Ruby Throated Hummingbirds weigh about 3 grams (1/8 of
an Ounce) and are about 9 centimeters (3 1/2 inches) in
lenght. They fly about 30 miles per hour under normal
conditions but can reach 50 miles per hour when fleeing
from a hostile situation. When diving, they can reach
more than 60 miles per hour. They flap their wings about
50 beats per second normally and can beat them up to 80
times per second if necessary.
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