​     This is one of those pictures I wish would have been in perfect focus, a young Ruby-throated hummingbird grabbing on to the stamen of a Fuchsia flower while it tries to feed. This is very common behavior for young birds. They lack the proper coordination to fly and feed at the same time, so they try to sit on their food. As they get older they will fly and feed, and if it's just too awkward, they'll bypass that flower and move to another. Watch for this behavior as the young start to leave the nest this year.
     This is a perennial which is grown as an annual for cooler climates. Fuchsia plants are one of the best flowers for hummingbirds. They provide an abundance of nectar and actually come in many varieties. This perennial likes cooler temperatures (ideally in a partly sunny location) with a fair bit of moisture. It doesn't like to dry out. It will flower prolifically throughout the summer if given these conditions. Once the hummingbirds locate it, they will return over and over. Try other varieties as well, as there are many others that are just as effective and more. 
     Remember, flowers are key to attracting the young birds once they've left the nest. They rely not only on flowers, but great nectar filled ones, until they solve the feeders. If you have a mostly shady location to try one of these flowers, it's well worth it, especially for our little feathered friends.
Juvenile Ruby-throat, located N.E. of Edmonton, Alberta. 2015

     ​A study was done a while ago concerning the migration of Brown Trout as to when they would start spawning.  The temperature of the water only rose 2° from the time the first fish started moving upstream until the final fish started to move.  I found that extremely fascinating.  Their temperature sensors were so close to that of each other, but varied enough to protect the species if something happened in a particular stretch of that 200 mile migration.  If they all moved at precisely the same time, and something catastrophic happened in that exact location of the river, the entire species could be wiped out.
    The same thing applies to hummingbirds.  From the time the first Ruby Throated hummingbird starts to migrate north until the last one starts to move, can be just a 1° difference in the tilt of the earth, or just the slightest tweak in their sensory receptors.  If they were all created exactly the same, the consistency between them all could prove catastrophic in the same way as the fish migration.  That slight adjustment between each one of the birds allows the migration to run approximately one month long, and separates them as much as 1000 miles in distance, of all those going to the same location. 
    What's also fascinating is that there's a location for each one of them.  They can all look nearly identical, but the personalities and differences between these birds allows them to spread across the entire continent.
    This adult male Ruby Throated hummingbird is going through an early molt.  It can start as early as August and continue through November.  He's not the handsomest male in the garden, but during his prime time he's as good looking as the best of them. 
N.E. of Edmonton, Alberta. August 2016.

     It's that time of year when everyone eagerly awaits the return of hummingbirds. Everyone wants to see these little jewels, but few go to the effort of doing all it takes to get them to stick around. One of the biggest chores required in "hummingbirding" is changing feeders and cleaning them. Some will place out a feeder at the start of the season, and if they don't see a hummingbird they just leave it hanging for lengthy periods of time while it ferments and turns into a moldy mess, and then it requires much more time and effort in cleaning it. When I did a past blog, I had an enormous amount of people ask me when to put feeders out and how frequently to change the nectar. 
     Temperature has a great deal to do with it. The hotter it is outside, the quicker it spoils. In saying this, if your temperature averages 20-24C (68-75F), then change the feeder once a week. If your temperature averages 25-30C(77-86F), I would change the feeders every 5-7 days. If your temperature averages above this, then change it in 3-5 days. Many would say change it every 1 to 3 days regardless, and I think that's unnecessary unless you experience hot desert temperatures, over 100F daily. Many would say they'll get sick on nectar beyond 3 days, and I completely disagree. Flowers hold nectar for very long times, and when they die the nectar starts to spoil. Then hummingbirds know it's not good and refuse to drink it. 
First of all remember that we are using drinkable water to make the nectar. Now, think about the stagnant pond water that birds drink and bathe in on a daily basis. The system of a bird was not created to drink clean distilled water, it was made to withstand the dirtiest, natural, bacteria filled water that fills millions of ponds, lakes and river across the world. Now, I'm not saying let your feeders sit until they look like 3 month old sewage. I'm simply stating that 7 day old nectar will not hurt hummingbirds. If it did, we wouldn't have a live bird on this planet from all the bacteria they get from millions of other water sources. When flowers die and the nectar ferments, hummingbirds will simply refuse these forms of food past their expiration. 
     Many people just refuse to put up feeders because they are under the impression that they have to be changed every few days, but unless you are experiencing excessively hot temperatures over long periods of time, it' simply not necessary. 
As for when to place out your feeders, I have a Hummingbird Tracker on the home page of www.therubythroat.com that shows the progress of the Ruby-throats across North America, and I have a "Report a sightings" page that shows the arrival times for hummingbirds in Canada. Canadian residents can also report their first sightings on this page as well. ​

​   This was the king of the yard last year. This perch sits right above one of his feeders. It was early in the year and he was the dominant male who owned all rights to the yard. No other male was allowed unless he snuck in without being noticed, and every female that showed up was greeted by his handsome charm. 
   There are many of us now wondering whether our previous birds will rule and reign for another year. I know for sure Ziggy had 2 successful years, and I'm very curious to see if he'll make it back for another season. He was very unique in his flight pattern, which gave him the name Ziggy and confirmed his identity. 
   As written in past posts, you can always tell the mood of a hummingbird by their pose. Ziggy, being a very proud male, let himself be known to all his territory and sat quite content in the lower image as all his tail feathers are combed tightly together to form a point. On the top he is showing a bit of anger with the split tail. From contentment to utter contempt, you can read these birds by how wide the tail feathers split apart. Adult Male Ruby-throated hummingbird. N.E. of Edmonton, Alberta. 2015.

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   When you are choosing flowers for a successful hummingbird garden it's important to choose their favorites, as some produce an abundance of nectar and some don't, but there is something just as critical as planting their favorites, and that is planting in large masses. If you don't have large areas to work with, make sure you plant heavily on the ones that really matter. A single flower in a garden has very little effect on hummingbirds. You may get a single pass, but it'll hardly make a life changing impact on any hummingbird. Plant an island of the same flower and you will have them returning several times. 
     In my last blog I wrote about working in small spaces, "Bringing the Country to the City", but if you have the space to work with, show off your colors like a neon sign in a desert. Just like you would place hummingbird feeders in various locations around your garden to attract the attention of every potential hummingbird, the same should be done with flowers. The more islands of flowers, the more feeders, the more accessories or water features you use to attract hummingbirds, the larger reason you are giving hummingbirds to want to return to your garden. When you plant in islands, they also become large visible target with the ability to attract birds from longer distances. Think of it in the way you would if you were driving down the freeway and looking for a restaurant to eat. Those fast food signs were made to get your attention, and they work. Likewise, hummingbirds are searching for food in the same manner. Look at your home from the outside of your yard. Where is the most visible location to plant the largest target of flowers and place a feeder?
     Just like the saying goes, "we eat with our eyes", the very same thing applies to hummingbirds. Sight is the first sense that triggers hummingbirds. Once we hook them with our good feeders and flower choices, they will be become a long term customer.
​     Here are some islands of various flowers that always get the attention of our Ruby-throated hummingbirds, and even the occasional Rufous.