By Abigail Gilmore

When one thinks of all of Arizona’s wildlife, hummingbirds may not come to mind.  But these charming, charismatic creatures can be found fluttering all over the state.

If you’ve never seen one in your yard, look again.  After all, Arizona is second to only Texas for the number of hummingbird species found, said Vashti “Tice” Supplee, director of bird conservation at Audubon Arizona.

“Most people think of one or two species when we talk about hummingbirds,” Supplee said.  On the contrary, they are the second-largest family of birds in the western hemisphere.  “Like bees and butterflies, hummingbirds are important pollinators; they are able to gain nourishment from flower nectar.”

Attracting the birds

When it comes to attracting hummingbirds, Supplee suggests a combination of techniques.  “The very best way to enjoy hummingbirds is to plant a pollinator garden and provide a water source – decorative garden fountains or water features are perfect,” she said.  “Hummingbirds are attracted to penstemon and honeysuckle varieties.”

She added that hummingbirds tend to visit many flowering plants, including Texas sage, valentine bush and fairy duster.  “The key is to have a variety of flowering plants that will bloom throughout the year here in the southwest,” Supplee said.

If you are interested in setting out a feeder for hummingbirds, you must be committed to keeping it pristine.  “During the summer heat, the solution [one part sugar and four parts water] should be changed at least every other day.  Otherwise, it will ferment or get moldy,” she said.  “Do not use honey or other sweeteners, as hummingbirds cannot digest them.  Multiple feeders work best so that birds can gain access if a feeder is being guarded by a dominant bird.”

Though hummingbirds love sugar water, another expert suggests using proteins to attract the birds.  “Hang an overripe banana or soft orange [or] apple on a nail or twig on a tree – and it will attract those pesky little fruit flies.  Those will bring in the hummingbirds!” said Sam Kathryn Campana, founding director of Audubon Arizona.

If you aren’t equipped to feed the birds, you can certainly help them build their nests.   “When you brush your hair in the morning, just pull the hair from the brush – and let the breeze take it onto your outdoor plants,” Campana said.  “The hummingbirds will find it and incorporate it into their nest.”

The birds’ nests are wound very tightly, but they will expand to make room for the growth of their eggs and babies, she said.  “It’s so sweet to see your own hair (or your garment threads) in their thumb-sized nests!”

Amazing, little birds

Though the birds live off of sugar water and small insects and are relatively small in size, don’t underestimate them, Supplee said.  “They are amazingly tough for their small size and are truly the ‘jewels’ of the bird world, with the iridescent feathers on the head and throat of the males.”

Perhaps one of the reasons hummingbirds are so intriguing is that these small birds are still a mystery to many.  “Because they are small and have the ability to hover, standard bird monitoring techniques do not work very well for this family of birds,” Supplee said.  “Specialized monitoring programs that include citizen observation programs are helping us better understand these dynamic and charismatic birds.”

Bird watching

If you would like to catch a glimpse of many hummingbird species, consider visiting the Sky Island Mountains in southeastern Arizona during the summer, Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, the canyons on the east side of the Huachuca Mountains or Cave Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains – they are all prime destinations.

Source

www.az.audubon.org

Photo source http://rutgers-leslie.blogspot.com/2010/04/buzz-on-hummingbird-gardening.html