EXTREME WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HUMMINGBIRDS!

As one of our family of customers and friends, we hope this email finds you safe and well.

The recent hurricane has done extensive damage to our neighborhoods and our community. While we all start to rebuild our homes, businesses and lives, please consider taking a few steps to help our hummingbirds weather the loss of their habitat, too.

Many residents in our area have reported a huge increase in activity at their hummingbird feeders the last several days as a result of the hurricane's impact on the hummingbirds’ main source of food: nectar laden flowers.

Millions of hummingbirds have started their southward migration and providing hummingbird feeders to help them along their way is now more critical than ever this year.

Experts have noted that the storm's high winds and extensive flooding have greatly reduced many of the plants that usually provide migrating hummingbirds with their natural sources of nectar. This means that our supplemental feeders will play an increased role in providing the hummingbirds with much needed nectar to keep them fueled-up for their long journey to Central America.

You can help them by offering a sugar-water solution placed in specially designed hummingbird feeders. The simple recipe for this nectar solution is mixing four parts of water to one part of common table sugar. Pour the clear nectar into a red-colored feeder to attract these amazing birds.

Place the feeder in a shaded location and change the nectar every 2-3 days to help prevent spoilage. Multiple feeders will help to minimized squabbles and reduce crowding.

At this time each year, the migrating waves of hummingbirds that visit our feeders provide the most spectacular viewing opportunity of the season. During the peak of migration, the hummingbirds that visit feeders on any given late-summer day are completely replaced by a new set of migrants every 24 hours.

Research has also discovered that for every 10 individual hummingbirds you see at you feeder at one time, you will actually have about 50 hummingbirds pass through your yard on that same day. And this year, it is likely to be a higher number as the reduced amount of natural nectar sources drives more migrants towards feeders to re-fuel.

By providing hummingbirds with supplemental feeders you are sure to help make their journey south a little easier and you just may be rewarded with some of the most stunning displays of hummingbirds at your feeders that we have seen in many years.

It's a Great Idea to Add More Hummingbird Feeders to Your Yard Until These Extreme Conditions Subside!