.jpg" style="float:right; padding-left:10px;padding-bottom:10px; padding-top:0px; padding-right:0px;" alt="Author Photo" />Posted by Hummingbirds are common to the Wickenburg area. They are among the smallest of birds, able to hover in mid-air and fly backwards by rapidly flapping their wings at speeds up to up to 90 times per second. They can fly at speeds over 30 miles per hour. Their name comes from the characteristic hum made by their rapid wing beats. Because of their high metabolism, they spend a good part of their day eating and digesting their food.
Although most migrate south during the winter months, many remain. It doesn’t take much effort to attract them to a backyard feeder. Special hummingbird food containing dyes is not necessary — in fact, it may contain ingredients that are not good for the birds. Instead, mix one part pure cane sugar — do not use artificial sweeteners! — to four parts hot water. Stir or shake until all sugar is dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool and use it to fill a hummingbird feeder. Hang the feeder in your backyard or on your patio; within a short time, the hummingbirds will start to appear. If you regularly clean and refill the feeder, the hummingbirds will return again and again, year-round.
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