Susan's Hummingbird Gardens

Today’s guest article offers some excellent tips for how to attract hummingbirds using just about anything red.

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/prayerfriends/4562394532/

Attracting Hummingbirds – 5 Best Ways to Attract Hummingbirds with Red

All of nature is inter-related! Hummingbirds are not an exception. Due to natural selection, these tiny birds have no sense of smell but possess keen vision. The relationship of hummingbirds with red originates with the red tubular flowers which often have the highest nectar reserve. Hummingbirds have a tremendous need for nectar .They live on the edge of survival with a heart rate of about 500 beats per second that can increase to 1,200 beats per second during courtship. Heat loss is rapid due to the bird’s small size. To maintain all of that energy, a hummingbird needs to eat double its weight in food per day.

An amazing fact is that many of the beautiful flowers hummingbirds prefer have co-evolved with them over the centuries. The hummingbirds need the nectar in the flowers .The flowers need the hummingbirds for pollination. A hummingbird has an important role in the eco-system due its ability to inadvertently pollinate flowers. While hovering at flowers the hummingbird’s wings often pick up pollen and carry it on to the next flower it visits.

Hummingbirds, with their great eyesight, are attracted to bright colors. Red is the brightest color making it the favorite for these wonderful creatures. You can lure them down from their migration route by displaying red in a number of ways.

Some ways to accomplish this:

1. Plant red tubular flowers that grow throughout the summer. Hummingbirds need nectar throughout the season.
2. Hang hummingbird feeders or feeders of other colors with red feeding ports on them. Remember that hummingbirds need nectar, so hummingbird feeders are always a good idea.
3. Hang red ribbons on tree branches and on your feeders. The hummingbirds can spot them blowing in the wind.
4. Put out a red gazing ball. These beautiful, decorative objects are reflective and sometimes, the hummingbirds will approach closely. You can take interesting photographs of a hummingbird looking into a gazing ball and thinking it is the competition. Hummingbirds are very territorial.
5. Set out red objects such as a child’s red wagon. You can even fill them with pots of brightly colored flowers that hummingbirds prefer.

Showing red in these ways will most likely bring these gorgeous little birds into your yards or patios.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/bird-watching-articles/attracting-hummingbirds-5-best-ways-to-attract-hummingbirds-with-red-3596499.html

About the Author… I have always loved hummingbirds and have been intrigued by their nature. I have done extensive research on hummingbirds and together with my husband have developed a website: The Hummingbird Guide for hummingbird enthusiasts like ourselves. The Web site offers specific resources for How to Attract Hummingbirds, Amazing Facts about Hummingbirds, Planting a Hummingbird Garden, A Nectar Recipe, Hummingbird Photos and Choosing a Hummingbird Feeder.

Do any of you viewers have some more suggestions for how to attract hummingbirds using the color red?