Hummingbirds at Feeder

Brian Nalley of LaCygne is passionate about hummingbirds. A hunter and outdoorsman, he loves nature and its beauty. At no small expense, he’s built a backyard sanctuary that swarms of hummers call their summer home. Though his job precluded us meeting face to face, Brian graciously let me film his birds for a fascinating glimpse at these Kansas jewels. Kansas is home to ruby-throated hummingbirds, and other hummer species pass through our state during migrations. In the wild, hummingbirds seek nectar from various plants, especially red, tubular flowers like native cardinalflowers. Birders often hang special feeders containing sugar water to attract these aerial magicians. The tiny birds can hover, fly backward, and zing like bullets in flight. Their long beaks, and even longer tongues, let them sip nectar on the wing for high energy requirements that must be satisfied about every 15 minutes. Along with diminutive size and beauty, their habits make them a birdwatcher’s dream. Brian has fed hummingbirds at his home since 1996, filling five feeders each day with 32 cups of sugar solution. He mixes table sugar 1:4 with just-boiled water and uses about 200 pounds of sugar each year to feed his birds. The first hummers appear at his feeders in early April, and some are seen as late as Halloween. He’s had a few migrant stragglers well into November. Hummingbirds at feeders create quite a show. They are noiser than you might think, buzzing, tweeting, and even screeching as they chase and fight in congested airspace. They are somewhat shy in human presence, but not overly so. If you stand or sit still, they’ll come near, and even eat from your hand. Watching their aerial skills closeup is a marvel. Male ruby-throats are gorgeous. Throat patch feathers are iridescent. Depending on light angle, they can appear dull and colorless. But when lit just right, the throat patch is a dazzling jewel that ranks among the bird world’s most spectacular coloration. Females and juvenile ruby-throats, though pretty, lack this amazing hue. Hummingbirds beat their wings about 50 times per second on average, a whir to the human eye at normal speed. They can fly more than 60 mph in a dive, and are the most agile birds in flight. As summer wanes, hummingbirds head south, and the hundred birds or so that stay near Brian’s house dwindle. Ruby-throats generally overwinter in Mexico, Central America, and the Carribean islands. Come spring, they head back north, welcome visitors for Brian and others who go out of their way to attract these special birds. I’m Mike Blair for KDWPT.