Did You Know these facts about Hummingbirds?

•  Seventeen species of Hummingbirds breed in North America.

•  They fly forward, backward, shift sideways, and stop in mid-air.

•  An average hummingbird consumes half its weight in nectar each day and is the world's smallest bird.

• Hummingbirds can reach speeds up to 60 miles an hour. Their wings beat 78 times per second during regular flight and up to 2000 times during a dive.

•  They lap nectar with their tongues.

• Hummingbirds, like most birds, have virtually no sense of smell. The flowers that attract them tend to have little or no fragrance so the hummingbirds direct themselves toward highly visible and nectar producing plants and flowers.

•  One good way to enjoy the company of hummingbirds is to plant a hummingbird garden. In addition to providing them a natural diet, a hummingbirds garden is an excellent way to attract birds to your nearby feeder; since hummingbirds feed by sight on regularly followed routes, called trap lines, their inquisitive nature will quickly lead them to investigate any possible new source of food

• In addition to food sources, convenient perching opportunities will make your yard more hospitable to hummingbirds.

• They spend about 80% of their time sitting on twigs, leaf stems and clotheslines, etc.

• Trees and shrubs helpful for attracting hummingbirds are Azalea, Flowering Quince, Lantana, Manzanita, Mimosa and Red Buckeye. Vines they are attracted to include Coral and Japanese Honeysuckle, Morning Glory, Cypress Vine and Trumpet Creeper. The perennial flowers they like are Bee Balm, Canna, Cardinal Flower, Four-O-Clocks, Hosta, Little Cigar, Lupine, Penstemon and Yucca.

• If you plan carefully and select a variety of plants that flower later, you will be rewarded with happy hummingbirds throughout the season.

• Do not use pesticides around hummingbird plants. As well as being harmful to the hummingbirds, killing garden pests will also eliminate the small insects hummingbirds rely upon for protein.