Who doesn’t love hummingbirds? The hummingbird is the only bird that can fly backwards and even upside down, and they have a larger brain to body ratio than any other animal, including us. The ruby throat-ed hummingbird is the only species native to Arkansas. They arrive in March, raise two broods, and leave in September.
Do you feed hummingbirds? Leave your feeder out in the fall. It won’t keep the birds from leaving and it will provide food to stragglers who otherwise might not make it. Clean your feeder every three to five days, otherwise the solution will ferment and mold will grow.
Hummingbirds eat insects as well as nectar, so grow native plants for them that will host insects. Finally, hummingbirds don’t hitch a ride on bigger birds. They fly across the Gulf of Mexico on their own power!
For more information, see Audubon.org