Hummingbirds

• Nectar is the hummingbird's favorite food. However, he will also eat insects and tree sap. The hummingbird will sometimes follow a woodpecker from one tree to another and will sip sap through the holes left by the woodpecker.
• One hummingbird may visit up to 1,000 flowers per day.
• The hummingbird may beat his wings 75 times per second.
• The hummingbird can fly forward, backward, straight up, straight down, and upside down.
• During migration, a hummingbird may fly 500 miles, non-stop, across the Gulf of Mexico. While migrating, hummingbirds live on fat reserves stored in their bodies.
• At one tenth of an ounce, a grown hummingbird weighs less than a pencil.
• The hummingbird's nest is slightly bigger than a walnut.
• The hummingbird weaves its nest from pine needles, dry flowers, moss, grass and lichen. The outside is tough and waterproof. The hummingbird uses spiderwebs to hold its nest togtether. It lines the inside with cobwebs and feathers.
• The hummingbird lays two white eggs, each the size of a pea.
• The hummingbird feeds every 10 minutes throughout the day.
• The hummingbird's heart beats 1,260 times per minute during the day, but slows to 50 beats per minute at the night

Recipe	1 Part Sugar 4 Parts Water Boil 1-2 Minutes Cool & Store In Refrigerator
Important	Never use honey or artificial sweeteners! Honey ferments easily, and can cause sores in the hummers mouth. Artificial sweeteners have no food value. Do not use red food coloring in your solution, as this could be harmful to your hummers. Change nectar every 3 days, more frequently in hot weather. If you see black spots inside your feeder this is mold and you will need to scrub it out with a good bottle brush. If you can't reach it with a bottle brush you can add some sand with water and shake the feeder to remove the mold. You should never use harsh detergent to clean your feeder. Rinse out each time you change your nectar with hot water, and if you do this on a regular basis you should not have a problem with mold inside the feeder.
	Source: Debbie's Tips for Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds

Related Links

Humabout Hummingbird Photography

Hummingbird Society

Hummingbirds in Houston

Debbie's Tips for Attracting and Feeding Hummingbirds

To Feed a Hummingbird

Planting for Wildlife

Landscaping to Attract Birds

Birdnet

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Terry Portillo © 1999