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BirdsNature

Hummingbirds: Tiny but Mighty

by Em

When I’m feeling overwhelmed or that the cards are stacked against me, few things can jolt me back to reality faster than seeing a Ruby-throated Hummingbird buzzing around my backyard. These tiny but mighty birds weigh less than an ounce, yet they fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico TWICE each year. That’s a 20-hour trip, and with nowhere to land in the middle, there’s no room for error. And I think I’ve got challenges?

A photo of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird visiting a butterfly bush flower

There are several species of hummingbirds in the United States, but here in the northwoods we only see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. They usually arrive in late April, nest here for the summer and then depart again for Central America in early October.

a photo of a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched on a shrub branch

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have such short legs that they are unable to hop or walk like other songbirds. But they are amazing flyers and can “adjust their position up, down, sideways and backwards with minute control.” They can reach speeds of 24 miles per hour.

a graphic showing a hummingbird and a salvia flower

I attract hummingbirds to my backyard by growing some of their favorite flowers each year like cardinal flower, salvias and bee balm.

A graphic showing cardinal flower, salvia and bee balm blooms

But anyone can attract hummingbirds to their property by growing a few annual flowers that do well in pots and planters like petunias, impatiens or lantana. These plants are easily found at garden centers each spring and will thrive on patios and decks.

A graphic showing lantana, impatiens and petunia blooms

And if you’re not into gardening at all there’s still an easy way to attract hummingbirds. Provide a hummingbird nectar feeder instead. I like this one because it has a good ant moat and it keeps out wasps (note: this is not an affiliate link).

What do I fill my feeder with? The recipe is 4 parts water to 1 part white, granulated sugar (no honey or sugar substitutes). Simply boil the water and mix in the sugar until you no longer see the crystals. Then let it cool before filling your feeder.

A photo of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched on a red nectar feeder

The nectar will last without spoiling for about a week (but less time in extremely hot weather). If you have leftover nectar you can store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. I find that boiling 4 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar is enough to fill two of the feeders I linked to above.

You can learn even more about hummingbirds and how to attract them here.

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BirdsNature

That’s a Lot of Cranes!

by Em

Did you know that every year 80 percent of the world’s Sandhill Crane population stops at the Platte River in Nebraska to rest up and feed while on their migration route? People come from all over the United States and world to see them. Due to mild winter temperatures, a record number of cranes have already been spotted in Nebraska this year.

If you want to see what it looks like when tens of thousands of cranes descend upon an area, check out this cool video!

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Nature

Finding the “Firsts”

by Em

Winter has been very different this year. Because of the lack of snowstorms and cold weather where we live it’s hard to remember what month it is. Last week a local meteorologist started his weather teaser with “A mild Thanksgiving is……ugh Thanksgiving??? Valentine’s Day!!!” Usually by this point in winter I have the winter doldrums or even major cabin fever if there’s still a lot of snow on the ground.

Despite the lack of snow and cold this year, I’m still eager for spring. And what always pulls me through in February and March is looking for signs of spring when I’m outside or looking out the window.

In fact I keep a list of nature “firsts” during the entire year!

In late winter it’s things like:

  • First American Robin sighting
  • First crocus blooming
  • First chipmunk sighting (they go into a sort of hibernation during the winter)
  • First bumblebee sighting (the queens emerge and look for a new home)

In summer it’s (apparently bugs!):

  • First mosquito bite
  • First “song” of a cicada (which always makes me think of back-to-school time)
  • First fireflies
a photo of a child looking out the window as snowflakes fall

In fall it’s things like:

  • First killing frost
  • First snowflakes
  • First Dark-eyed Junco (snowbird) sighting

Spotting these little signs brings me hope—especially in the winter. And this exercise also something fun and positive you can easily do when you’re taking a walk, waiting to pick up your kids at their school or gazing out a window. It’s also interesting to see how the dates change from year to year or even decade.

What “firsts” could you look for each season where you live?

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