The Art of Hummingbird Gardening published in 2015
While watching the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds visiting my feeder this summer, I thought it was a suitable time to learn more about this miniature, but amazing creature. The Art of Hummingbird Gardening authored by Mathew Tekulsky provided useful information on the varieties of hummingbirds and their physical makeup, energy requirements, and behavior patterns as well as providing their nectar sources. I believe this book can help gardeners provide for the birds and make a home for them in their garden.
The author compares the extremely high calorie requirements of hummingbirds to man’s requirements. The average man’s calorie requirement is 3,500 calories. A study calculated the calorie requirement for a hummingbird to be 155,000 calories a day. Another study discovered about 1,022 Fushia blooms are needed to supply the daily nectar needs of a single hummingbird.
The next few Chapters describe: the activities of the male and female birds, the raising of the brood, the territoriality of the hummingbirds, the construction of the wing and shoulder, wing strokes, and the color and iridescence of the feathers.
Most of the hummingbirds in the United States breed in the western states, and only the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird breeds in the eastern states (including Georgia). This book outlines the migration path and dates for the Ruby-Throat and other hummingbirds. A compilation of the most common nectar sources for various hummingbirds is also included in the book. I was surprised to find that although many varieties of flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, some cultivated hybrids of the same flowers are too small for the beak and tongue of the bird or hold little or no nectar. The list for the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is quite extensive and emphasizes using the succession of flowering of the different nectar sources in planning an attractive garden for this bird.
The text points out that both the quantity and variety of flowers are important to attracting hummingbirds. Providing a water source to the hummingbirds for both drinking and bathing will also aid in attracting these birds.
Chapter five addresses flower color preferences to draw the birds and the lack of scent as important to reducing competition with other pollinators.
Chapter Six covers feeders. It has valuable information about the type of sugar to use in the feeder; guidelines for feeder types to use; how to clean feeders, and the importance of separating feeders.
There are several useful resources at the end of the text:
(1) Descriptions of the varieties of hummingbirds,
(2) A listing of cultivated plants hummingbirds like, and
(3) A listing of native plants attractive to hummingbirds.
There is also an extensive bibliography to the book.
I liked this book for the information about hummingbirds’ physiology and behaviors and for the extensive information about nectar preferences and color attraction for the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. If you read this book, I am sure it will help you attract and observe these birds in your own yard.