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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | OCTOBER 2025 9 By Janet Boyce, Resident Hummingbirds are very smart. ey can remember every flower and feeder visited, as well as how long it takes for a certain flower to refill. Although they are only a few inches long, hummingbirds flap their wings so fast (50 to 80 times per second) that they create an actual humming sound which gives them their name. ese tiny birds are stunning creatures who make the environment, and your garden, a much brighter place. ree species, in particular, are native to Southern California. Anna's Hummingbird has a red crown, red-spotted throat, dark green above, and gray below. Costa's Hummingbirds are the shimmering, purple fliers. ey stay year-round, and flourish in the desert areas. Allen's Hummingbird is coppery orange and green overall. ey are common along the Pacific Coast. All three species migrate up from Mexico for the spring and summer months. Hummingbirds can fly around 20 to 30 miles per day for routine travel. eir seasonal migration is much higher. ey can fly as much as 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico in a single, nonstop flight! However, most of these little birds migrate over land with frequent stops. Hummingbirds eat a variety of small, flying insects in addition to nectar, in order to meet their protein and fat requirements. A female can consume up to 2,000 insects per day while feeding her young. e babies come in pairs (two eggs at a time) during the months of May through July. e female takes on all of the reproductive responsibilities: building the nest, incubating the eggs, and feeding and raising the young. Needless to say, hummingbirds don't mate for life. e sleeping habits of this amazing bird are quite interesting. ey have a nightly deep sleep called torpor. is is a short- term involuntary state of consciousness, similar to hibernation. ese birds decrease their metabolic rate by up to 95 percent, which slows their heart rate from 900 beats per minute to as little as 50. is reduces breathing significantly. eir core body temperature can drop dramatically from 104 to as low as 50 degrees. Before going into torpor, they feed ravenously to store energy with a frenzy of activity before dusk. ey typically sleep in sheltered spots on the underside of branches to shield from wind and rain. Torpor oen lasts from five to 10 hours each night, in order to conserve energy, since their fast metabolism would otherwise lead to starvation. A hummingbird awakes, due to an internal clock that triggers wing muscle vibration. is generates heat which gradually raises their body temperature. Hummingbird feeders can be used year-round in California. Glass containers are better than plastic for cleaning and last longer. You don't need red food coloring for attraction if you get a container that has color. e best liquid for your feeder is a one to four ration of sugar to water. Be careful not to hang your feeder too close to windows or near dense foliage where predators may hide. Also, avoid direct sunlight. If a hummingbird hovers near you, it is usually due to curiosity or territorial display. eir life span is about three to five years. Culturally, they are seen as messengers of joy, healing, and even a connection to loved ones who have passed. It was my mother's favorite bird. The Wonder of Hummingbirds

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