A Brief History
On September 2, 2023, the nation celebrated another National Hummingbird Day, a day to recognize the beautiful and colorful little nectar sippers in our gardens and at our Hummingbird feeders.
Digging Deeper
Flapping their little wings over 50 times per second, our smallest birds are also our most maneuverable, able to hover, fly up and down and backward and forward. While we think of them as drinkers of nectar, the fact is that Hummingbirds drink nectar only to supply the huge amount of energy needed to fly the way they do. They draw most of their nutrition from the bugs they eat, mostly spiders.
Celebrate our feathered friends by planting Hummingbird friendly flowers or setting up a nectar feeder.
With iridescent colors these birds symbolize love, joy and beauty to Native Americans. And yet the mystery remains, “Why do Hummingbirds hum???” The answer is simple! Because they do not know the words!
Note: Sometimes you may find black and orange Orioles drinking at your Hummingbird feeder!
Question for students (and subscribers) to ponder: What is your favorite backyard bird?
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Shewey, John. The Hummingbird Handbook: Everything You Need to Know about These Fascinating. Timber Press, 2021.
Stokes, Donald and Lillian. The Hummingbird Book: The Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Hummingbirds. Little, Brown and Company, 1989.
