Bird the Bend

The hummingbirds are coming!

(Rockport-Fulton, Texas – August 3,2009) What bird is known as the

acrobat of the air? This same bird can cruise at 25 miles per hour and dive at more than three times this speed. It can hover at a standstill and even fly upside down. Of course, we’re talking about the tiny gem of the bird species, the hummingbird. They will come through Rockport and Fulton in waves by the thousands beginning mid-August.

This is the time to give our feathered friends a little extra help to fuel their continued migration south so get those feeders out.

Remember to always start with clean feeders. Any time you see or suspect mildew or mold you may clean them with a bottle brush and a mixture of one part bleach to ten parts water, but rinse very thoroughly. To refill the feeder, use a sugar solution of one part sugar (no sugar substitutes or honey) to four parts water. Do not vary this formula. If the sugar solution is more concentrated, there is a possibility of it being harmful to the birds by dehydrating them. Heat the water to a slight boil, remove from heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Fill feeders with the solution after it cools. Adding color is absolutely unnecessary, and may even be injurious. The red color of the feeder attracts the birds. Unused sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks (a covered container). Feeders should be cleaned and refilled with sugar water every two to three days or immediately at the first sign of mold. To make your yard even more inviting to hummingbirds, plant some hummingbird attractant plants.

Hummingbirds are bullies, always have been, always will be. And there isn’t just one bully; they’re all combative. Hanging feeders in a cluster can ease some of the competition but not all. The hummingbirds rarely hurt each other so just enjoy the show.

We may not want the hummingbirds to leave but leave they will. Let’s all help them out and send them on their way with a good store of energy for their journey and look for their return in spring.

Your chance to view these fascinating birds will be at the 21^st Annual Hummer/Bird Celebration in Rockport and Fulton, Texas which is set for the peak of the migration Sept. 17-20, 2009. The event will feature keynote speakers daily, bus and boat birding trips, workshops, over 80 exhibitors, and much more. Brochures are available at the Chamber office or go online at www.rockporthummingbird.com.