Now we know that not all of our readers are not inclined toward our feathery friends, but since many of you display a lot of interest in the wild happenings in and around Bay Country, it's the time to talk hummingbirds.
Unless you have a lot of flowering plants such as butterfly bushes, honeysuckle, or azaleas in your yard, you may have never seen a hummingbird in your yard. And even if you do have the right stage set for hummingbirds, you might not even notice these small, acrobatic, hovering wonders unless you really look for them--they're quite small and very fast.
Each year around this time, ruby-throated hummingbirds (the species common in the Middle West and East Coast) work their way north after having spent the winter in places such as the Yucatan, Guatemala, and the Caribbean. It's an epic journey that the birds spend all winter fattening up for, and the first wave of hummers is starting to make its way into the Bay region, spurred don by this week's record high temperatures.
Attracting hummers to your yard is easier than you think. While it helps to have a number of flowering bushes to attract them, an inexpensive hummingbird feeder often suffices. I have mine hanging from a metal hook just above my patch of butterfly bushes. Simply brew up some nectar (
click here for the recipe and suggestions), make sure you keep it fresh, and keep your eyes peeled toward your feeder. My hummers usually visit in the morning and evening, but sometimes I see them during the day.
According to the great map at
hummingbirds.net, the first set of hummers has arrived in Bay Country. It's an easy weekend project to get your feeder set up and this weekend's weather forecast looks great for getting yours in place.