The Hummingbird is the smallest member of the bird family. They can fly forward and backward, stop in mid air, and fly sideways. During mating, the males fly in an arch or pendulum, forward and backward, to attract a female. They can reach speeds of up to 60 miles an hour and have a heartbeat of over 1,000 times a minute. Their wingbeats of up to 75 beats per second during normal flight create the humming sound. Tiny insects also make up a large part of their diet.
To feed Hummingbirds, mix 1/4 cup granulated (table) sugar with 1 cup water. Boil mixture to prevent fermentation and let cool before placing in feeder. NEVER use artificial sweeteners or food coloring. A spot of red on the feeder will attract them as they have no sense of smell. During hot weather, change the nectar at least once a week. And keep the feeder clean by rinsing with hot water and scrubbing with a small brush, avoiding the use of soap.
The navigational skill of Hummingbirds has always amazed me. This smallest of creatures of the bird world travel at speeds up to 60 miles an hour (with wingbeats up to 60-70 times a second) over vast areas of water and land. And they are able to return to the same feeder year after year.
I discovered this first hand this year. Winter ravaged trees still stood naked in the back yard. The last ice and snow had finally melted from the shady places and I was enjoying a rare, sunny, but still cold day on my patio. Suddenly I heard a familiar chirping from a nearby tree. It couldn't be a hummingbird. It was way too early. Winter had not released its grip on this part of Tennessee and many more cold days lay in store. But sure enough, there he sat, his ruby throat sparkling in the sun, at the end of a limb which I had seen the hummingbirds perch on before darting to the feeder during the warm months.
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and I made eye contact and the little fellow immediately flew down to the exact spot where the hummingbird feeder always hang in the summer. He stayed there several seconds, hovering at the empty space, then flew back up to his branch and again began the same frantic chirpping.
It took all of 5 minutes to mix the quarter cup of granulated sugar with one cup of water, nuke it for three minutes, then set the container in ice water for an immediate chill-down. As soon as the feeder was in place, the little fellow starting sipping as if starved half to death. I have no idea how he had gotten as far as he had under the weather conditions in the area at the time. Whatever brought him to my home at that exact time will remain a mystery. But he brought joy to my heart by the mere fact that he remembered how to find my feeder and appeared on one of the few days nice enough to sit outside.