Sunday, May 4, 2025

Backyard Cocktails for the Birds

 

Ruby throated humming bird

“Where’s my drink?” That’s what my neighbor said, in what I interpreted as an accusatory tone. “I left it here,” he said. “It’s always here, you #@$% slacker.” That’s when I knew it was time to fix my thirsty visitor his favorite cocktail and hang the hummingbird feeder by the deck for the season. 

To say that hummingbirds are unique in the avian world is an understatement. We’ll start with the physical attributes. Ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only hummingbird species native to Ohio, are small. Adults weigh less than an ounce with a body length between 3 and 3 ¾ inches. Their wingspan maxes out at 4 ¾ inches. There are native insects with a bigger profile. They are a sort of olive colored back and wings, with a lighter belly. Males have a prominent red patch on their throat, hence the name.

Read the complete article in the Average Guy Outdoors column on the Dayton Daily News website here: Mixing Cocktails for Backyard Birds and Insects


Resources

Hummingbird Migration Tracker

https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2025-map.htm


Identification and facts

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/animals/birds/ruby-throated-hummingbird

What to Put in the Feeder

Make a simple syrup of sugar and water at ratio of 1:4 respectively. DO NOT PUT DYE OR COLORING IN YOUR NECTAR.

Where to put the feeder

https://www.thespruce.com/hummingbird-feeder-placement-385956#:~:text=Keep%20in%20a%20Shaded%20Area,it%20from%20the%20hottest%20temperatures.


No comments:

Post a Comment