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Exploring Nature

Hummingbirds have returned to Central Texas, so it’s safe to put our your feeders. Photo from Metro Creative

EXPLORING NATURE: HUMMINGBIRDS

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Sunday, March 28, 2021

Hard to believe, but it’s time again for hummingbirds in our area.

A few fortunate folks have hummers year-round. For example, Susan Evans has a rufous hummingbird which has been around her home in the Wimberley countryside all winter.

But for most of us, these flying jewels start showing up in mid-March, coming back north from their stays in Mexico and points south.

I had a black-chinned hummer that arrived for several years like clockwork each St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. I thought he must be a touch Irish and thought of him as Patrick.

Unfortunately, Patrick has not shown up this spring. I am beginning to think he either has found a new sugar-water feeder or that he has passed on. After all, these tiny birds have a normal life span of about 15 years.

Texas has 18 species of hummingbirds, and the rufous variety is the one most likely to over-winter. Other varieties you can expect in our area are blackchinned, ruby-throated, Allen’s, Anna’s, broad-billed, broad-tailed, buff-bellied and blue-throated.

Now is a good time to put up your hummingbird feeders, and remember, the correct feeding mixture is four parts water to one part sugar. Use only pure, sugar cane sugar, and no honey or food coloring. I prepare my mixture by mixing the sugar and water in a glass jar, then shaking the jar and heating it in the microwave oven for three minutes. Once it cools, it’s ready for hanging.

I sure hope Patrick shows up. I really miss the little rascal.

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666