It’s time to put out hummingbird feeders and start filling them with nectar. Hummingbirds are making their way north into the US and Canada from their winter resort homes in Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. Here are a few hummingbird resources that we recommend so that you can be ready for your guests, and learn more about your visitors.
This organization, the National Audubon Society, should be front and center in every birder’s orbit. It’s the mothership of bird organizations, and offers beautiful artwork and information about birds of the world, and that includes the full complement of hummingbirds – from Allen’s hummingbirds to Xantus’s hummingbirds. Who knew there so many species?
The American Bird Conservancy’s logo features a hummingbird, and it states that it chose this bird because it is small and feisty. The site offers a wealth of resources surrounding hummingbirds, including an I.D. quiz. The conservancy supports more than 70 reserves throughout the Americas, with (at last count) over 200 species of the 365 known species of hummingbirds.
You may subscribe to the conservancy’s “bird of the week” message, delivered to your inbox.
Hummingbird Central presents hummingbird migration maps that are kept up to date. The site also includes tips on how to attract hummingbirds to your yard, how to choose feeders and how to make nectar solutions. It also offers an extensive photo archives.
If you’re wondering how to have fun teaching kids about these interesting birds, check out Hummingbird-guide.com, and its “Hummingbirds for Kids” section. It is loaded with fun facts about hummingbirds that kids will relate to, such as these truths: a hummingbird weighs less than a penny, a hummingbird can fly backwards and hummingbirds don’t walk on their feet!
This is a great time of year to get busy with crafting. We are offering a how-to for making a hummingbird feeder, probably using items you can find in your own kitchen. Of course, there’s always Pinterest, using “hummingbirds kids craft” for a search.
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
