Hi Friends,
Another beautiful little creature of nature is the tiny hummingbird. As we have enjoyed watching the little tiny hummingbirds out of our window this summer, the time has come for this enjoyment to end soon. As the temperature drops and the season changes, the tiny, sprinkled colors of beauty will fly south to seek warmer weather and food. They cannot survive in the cold temperatures.
I have been reading a little about how they prepare to leave. Some will leave because hummingbirds do have an instinct to fly south where there is warmer weather. However, I understand some might not go unless they cannot find any food here. This is why everyone is encouraged to take their feeders down as the colder temperatures arrive. If they can find food, they will stay. This will at least give them one more reason to follow their instinct.
The sugar water isn't the only source of nutrients that hummingbirds feed on. They will eat spiders, insects, ash, sand, pollen and sap from bark. They need these sources for their protein in the diet. They use water only to bath in. They need many insects each day.
'Ruby Throated Hummingbirds' are the only hummingbirds that breed east of the Mississippi River. Hummingbirds cannot walk or hop. I find this interesting. They weight only grams. The smallest hummingbirds will weigh 2 grams. The largest hummingbirds will weigh 20 grams. 'The Ruby Throated and the Rufous Hummingbirds' are the most common species in the United States and Canada. This is unbelievable. Can you imagine how they care for themselves in the wind?
A hummingbird's wing oscillates in a figure pattern to produce lift on both the down-strokes and up-stokes. They achieve the extra lift they need to hover by creating a vortex on the leading edge of their wings. Hummingbirds continually readjust their wing angles to maintain high lift forces.
I find this remarkable. Again, 'a miracle in full circle in all of its' beauty'. The tinniest of all birds have 'graced us' with great 'nature watching in full bloom' this summer. As they will be leaving, we will wait for their return next year in early May. They will arrive, once again, to live with us for awhile to give us their beautiful side of friendship.
God has a way of sharing so many wonderful gifts with us in so many ways. And, He will send other 'beauties of nature' while the 'miracle hummingbirds' travel on their journey south for the winter. All in His perfect designed plan...our great creator.
I hope you have found this interesting and amazing. I know that I have.
Until next time
God bless
Doris
