Biodiversity Is The Antidote!
As sad as this devastating situation is, we can have hope because we can help.
Today we are going to discuss the wonderful, magical, beautiful, spiritual messenger Hummingbirds, because they are in desperate need of our help for their survival, and because we also depend on them for so much of our well-being. I love and respect all birds, but hummingbirds have always had a front row seat in my heart.
These incredible birds are known for their great flight abilities. They can hover in place, fly backwards and upside down, while their wings are beating at 50-80 times per second. They have the highest metabolism of any bird species, needing to consume half of their body weight in sugar and protein daily from nectar and small insects. Their colorful feathers are iridescent due to microscopic platelets that reflect light like prisms. The Bee-Hummingbird is the smallest, about 2 inches in length weighing less than a penny.
Hummingbirds are well-known for their very long migration distances. Some travel up to 3000 miles from North America to Central America each year, and often travel non-stop over the Gulf of Mexico. Also known for their great agility and speed, they can fly up to 30 miles per hour at their level flight and 60 miles per hour during courtship dives. Their heart beats up to 1,200 times per minute fueling intense activities! WOW!
Hummingbirds have excellent memories, with the ability to remember which flowers they’ve already visited and then knowing how long the flowers take to refill with nectar.
They have long tongues that extend far beyond their bills with tube-like structures used to lap up nectar. There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds.
All of these wonderful stories about the talents of these extraordinary birds make them one of the most captivating and admired in the world!
Hummingbirds are excellent pollinators. Pollination is the process of transferring pollen from the male part of the flower, the anther, to the female part, the stigma. This is what enables fertilization, which is critical for reproduction of flowers and plants.
The population of these heavenly birds are in a striking decline for several reasons, including climate and weather changes and the use of pesticides, which reduces the availability of insects needed as a crucial source of protein. Also, pesticides harm hummingbirds when there is direct contact. For today, though, we are discussing the detrimental effects of the many “alien” plants that have caused much destruction in our gardens. As mentioned in our earlier posts, we are encouraging every person who can tend their home in-ground or container gardens to replace the alien plants with plants that are native to your specific location. There are at least 8 separate areas across the U.S. that have their unique hummingbird attracting native flowers. And if you need help in learning what plants are native to your area, you can send us your questions by telling us your zip code and email address and we’ll get back to you with that info. Native plants and flowers are what our gardens need to be healthy, promoting biodiversity.
Hummingbirds rely heavily on biodiversity for their survival and well-being. They feed on nectar from a wide range of flowers, ensuring a continuous supply of a steady food source throughout the year. They also depend on small insects for protein, the insects that also depend on our bio-diverse gardens.
If you would like to read more scientific proof and info on this particular subject, I beg you to read Professor Douglas W. Tallamy’s books like “Nature’s Best Hope”, and “Bringing Nature Home” and “The Nature of Oaks” which discusses essential native trees. Then you will understand what triggered my passion for gardens being the meaning of life, because they are!