10 feeding tricks to keep your backyard buzzing with nectar-loving birds.
In many ways, a hummingbird is the Goldilocks of the bird world. Pleasing one or more of these finicky fliers take a fair bit of know-how, but when everything is just right, they make themselves at home in your neighborhood. From the ruby-throated in the East to the many species found in the West, hosting these beauties is well worth the effort.
RED-EYE FLIGHTS
Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors, especially red. The eyes of hummers have high concentrations of cones that heighten their ability to see reds and yellows while dulling shades of blue. Curiously, while red is a clue for them to find food, that alone won’t keep the birds coming back for more. When researchers altered the nectar levels in flowers, hummingbirds quickly keyed in on the blooms that offered elevated levels of nutrients, even if they weren’t red.
NO. 1 FOOD
Premade concentrate is available in stores, but there is no need for red dye. Clear nectar is best. It is also easy to make your own hummingbird cocktails. Stick to water and white table sugar in a 4 to 1 ratio—the sweeteners spoil quickly. Heating the water helps dissolve the sugar. Be sure to cool it down so it’s not too hot or cold, but just right.
REFRESH EARLY AND OFTEN
Bu hikaye Birds & Blooms dergisinin June/July 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Birds & Blooms dergisinin June/July 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Sense or Nonsense? - Why some birds can taste and smell - but others can't
Does a porcelain berry taste like a blueberry to a gray catbird? Does a block of lard smell like frying bacon to a northern flicker? The short answer is no. While some avian species do have a well-adapted sense of taste or smell, they can't distinguish between flavors and odors the way humans can. They're not picking up every ingredient in the suet you put out, says José Ramírez-Garofalo, an ornithology researcher at Rutgers University in New Jersey and the director of Freshkills Biological Station in Staten Island, New York.
Maple Mania - Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Amazing facts about this fall foliage mainstay
Food-Focused and Fierce - Meet Canada jays and learn why they eat almost anything they can find
Even if you haven't heard of Canada jays, you've heard of their relatives. Members of the corvid family, they belong to the same group as American crows, blackbilled magpies, and jays including blue, Steller's and scrub. "Unlike many of the other jays, a Canada jay doesn't have a crest of any kind; it just has a rounded head," says Dale Gentry, director of conservation for Audubon Upper Mississippi River.In 2018, the Canada jay's name was changed from gray jay, but Dale thinks the former adjective was fitting. "Most of its body is shades of gray with some white," he says. "There are different subspecies that have different physical traits, but most of them have some lighter coloring on their foreheads, upper breasts and throats, each with a darker streak that starts at each eye and goes back."
IN GOOD COMPANY
BIRDS OF A FEATHER MAY FLOCK TOGETHER, but what about other collectives of critters-and what do you call them when they do?
YOUR OWN Perfect Prairie
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ON THE MOVE
Birds approach the challenges of migration in surprising ways. Learn about how they walk, swim or take the scenic route during their travels.
Autumn Wonders
Fall colors offer befitting backdrops for these stunning reader photos
Sparrow Look-Alikes
Distinct sounds help separate these similar species
Embracing the Darkness
From black plants to moody decor, Gothic garden elements can offer a unique outlet to express your dark side
Red-Hot Plants
Scarlet-hued berries add a pop of color to any garden
