Hi, HB newbie and wannabe gardeners--
I was google-ing around and found this very nice online USG 'brochure' about Ruby-throated Hummingbird Habitats. I think it's a great reference for anyone thinking about adding plants to their yarden to attract them, so I thought I'd share the link:
ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WHMI/WEB/pdf/RUBYthroated1.pdf
I think you will have to copy and paste the link--it doesn't seem to want to hyperlink for me....
Maybe we should start a 'sticky' for hummingbird info?
Hummingbird Habitat Brochure for Beginners...
wow very nice find Tabasco
tabasco, thanks for the cool brochure link!
More good info.
Cathy
Ooooh! Did you read this on that brochure ...
"Records have shown winter populations in Florida from the central peninsula through the Florida Keys, as well as small populations wintering on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas. However, these birds may be genetically distinct from migrating populations."
What do they mean by "may be genetically distinct from migrating populations."?
This message was edited Feb 12, 2008 9:11 PM
Interesting. I'll do some scholarly research and see what I can find out.
Also, I was doing more google-ing about your Florida Hummingbirds and have you reported yours to Journey North?
Someone somewhere mentioned that they were already getting 'first sightings' in Florida--was that yours? Journey North already has their migration map up but not so the Hummingbird site. For those who haven't checked yet, here's the Journey North link: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/humm/index.html
Also, becky, are you on the 'hummingbird' message board? There is a 'beckygardener' posting there-- and, if so, do you have Cannas in your yard? Which ones, if I may ask? I bought some red 'Presdidents' in the Co-op and then someone mention the Indica were the ones the HBs liked...
Well, I am fascinated by your HBs--oh, by the way, I also read an article somewhere that banders were banding a home feeder (here in Ohio) and they thought there were about 6 to 10 HBs feeding at the feeder and it turned out that they had to band 50 birds before they got one banded bird coming back to the feeder--so they had sooooo many more HBs than they first thought! Maybe you do too!
T - Yes, the one report on the very east coast of Florida is mine. I found the Journey North site a few weeks ago and added my hummer sightings.
What message board are you talking about? I am on more than one message board - Thanks to Pelletory! :-)
I have several different canna growing in my yard. One is a very tall and smaller bloom that is a peach color canna, the rest are all dwarf canna which don't get as tall. Red, orange, and yellow/red colored blooms. Bought the tubers from Wally World last Spring. All of them grew really nice for me, but I have yet to notice any hummers on them. (That's not to say that the hummers aren't using them. I just haven't seen them.) What my hummers love are the Porterweed and Firespike bushes in my yard. They zig-zag back and forth between those and my feeders. They were hitting my Red Shrimp Plant too. I need to move that closer to the backyard feeders. I grow the RSP in a container.
The area that I have my feeders in the backyard is also the corner garden that I specifically planted hummingbird nectar plants. I have Pentas, Firespike, Morning Glories, Cape Honeysuckle, Porterweed, Skullcap, Red Brazilian Petunias, 4 O'Clocks, Coral Vine, Lantana, Firecracker bush, Necklace Pod, 2 small Golden Dewdrop trees, and Passiflora. All said to be used by hummers when in bloom.
Oh goodness! Your Hummer banding story is remarkable!!!! Wouldn't that be something if I DID have a whole bunch of different hummers instead of just a couple! I really want to see a party going on at my feeders. Not just one bird at a time. :-) That would be sooo cool! See I'm never satisfied! LOL!
Well, now I don't remember what message board I saw 'beckygardener' on, but something about Hummingbirds, I suppose.
Your garden sounds like a perfect haven for hummingbirds. Would you consider getting some pics of your plants to show them off on a thread dedicated just to that topic. It would be a good start to a Sticky for Hummingbird Gardening....?
Any observations and notes about which plants your birds are visiting the most would be valuable info to other gardeners, especially in the south...
T - I am on 2 other forums (Garden Web.and 54 Hummingbird Forum).
and I use the same screen name. You can never have enough resources! :-)
Will have to wait until my garden looks more lush for a photo. Being winter, some of these plants aren't blooming yet or have sparse blooms.
Yes, we do need a sticky thread for Hummingbirds! Good idea!
This message was edited Feb 14, 2008 7:41 AM
Ah, well, maybe it was the 54 Hummingbird Forum....I would have remembered GW.
Yes, why don't you do the sticky!
I started a thread or maybe someone else did on what were some of the best Southern Hummer plants. Perhaps in the Spring (next month) when more hummer threads are buzzing, I'll start a sticky thread then. Not enough info for a sticky right now or is there? What do you think?
Probably not, but there may be some good links to collect.