ComputerHunter.org |
|
|
|||
|
 |
The Amazing Hummingbird
Without a doubt, hummingbirds are beautiful and interesting creatures. Those living in the wild usually have a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. However, in captivity, hummingbirds can survive for more than 10 years! They feed off of insects, taking down an average of 400 to 500 per day, even more when it rains. They also eat more when they are about to migrate, sometime even doubling their weight for the long flight ahead. Hummingbirds also feed on flower nectar, helping the flower out at the same time by pollinating it. For this reason, the Portuguese gave the hummingbird its name meaning "flower kisser." There are even North American plants that depend on hummingbirds for pollination. They can hover above the flower or feeders thanks to their unique wings; in order for them to make forward and backward strokes consecutively their wings rotate at their shoulders. Some hummingbirds' wings flap as slow as 18 times per second, and some can beat them at an astonishing 70 to 80 flaps per second. They breathe an average of 250 times per minute. These small birds have speed, flying at speeds over 45 mph, and with bodies ranging from 2 ¼" to 8 ½", they are also quite agile. There are over 338 species of hummingbirds, but only about 16 are common in the United States. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only species common east of the Mississippi. Males of these species have a ruby colored throat, while the females have a pale, often speckled throat. It is common with most species of hummingbirds for the male to be colorful and flashy. They arrive at nesting grounds early to claim a territory and then flash their neon colors to attract females. Males have more than one mate, and females can tend to several nests at one time. She may be building one nest while still caring for newly hatched babies. The main responsibility of a female is to take care of the nest. She lays two very small white eggs at a time; when the hatchlings start to outgrow the nest, it will actually stretch with them because of the elasticity of the spider webs it is made of. The nestling will stay in the nest for about 21 days before going out to forage their own food. After that, it's on its own! Enjoy! George & Judy George and wife Judy are empty nesters (ah ha no wonder the affinity for birds!)who enjoy the outdoors, stained glass and eagerly awaiting for the truckloads of laundry that their two college daughters bring home. Of recent, the internet has played an integral part in George's lengthening "To Do" list and Judy's search for a internet rehabilitation center.
Google News - Top Stories
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Ecological Landscape Design and Organic Lawn Care There is a growing recognition, that the expanding suburban landscape is having a negative environmental impact. Suburban development often includes vast energy dependant monocultures (perfect, grass lawns). They consume a significant amount of natural resources, (water to keep them green and gasoline to keep them trimmed), and they reduce the amount of habitat available for native wildlife. Over use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides can leach into water supplies and be harmful to children and pets. Trends toward ecological landscaping and organic lawn care are lessening the detrimental effects of these designs. Many landscape designers are recommending native plant species, and even golf course managers are moving toward organic methods. Grey Water- Not Drinking Water- For Your Garden The average home can reduce their water consumption by around 30% by re-using grey water on their garden. Want a Garden but Not Enough Room or Soil? Then Hydroponics Gardening could be for You Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants a garden but doesn't have enough land or soil. Hydroponics gardening is, essentially, a way to cultivate plants using a nutrient solution instead of soil. With hydroponics gardening, it's easy to grow lovely flowers and succulent vegetables virtually anywhere you want! It's true that hydroponics gardening needs much less time than an ordinary garden. In fact, you might spend only five minutes a day maintaining you're hydroponics garden. Once a month the nutrient solution will have to be changed but this will only take a few minutes. Big fruiting vegetables like peppers and tomatoes may not be able to thrive but most other vegetables and flowers will do great. Are There Really Black Roses? Organic Roses in the Flower Garden Many people believe growing their flowers and vegetables organically is healthier for them and their environment. It is natural that you may wish to grow your roses this way also. Using the pesticides and insecticides that are usually considered to go along with growing roses and keeping them healthy can cause many people have to health problems . Maybe you just don't want those kind of chemicals in your garden and around your children. This article will give some pointers in using more natural methods of growing your roses. Wooden Garden Furniture Wooden Garden Furniture can be the ideal solution to various seating problems in your garden. You can add new seating areas to your garden by perhaps turning a path into a destination for a sit down or consider adding a few pieces of wooden garden furniture to less frequented corners of the garden. Mosquito Farms? Is That What Water Gardens Are? What is nicer that a lovely backyard garden pond. The lush growth rising above the water, graceful fish darting about and the soothing sound of the water. These are just a few of the reasons people are drawn to water gardens. My Spring Bulbs Wont Bloom - Why? You can hear the wailing from here. "Why aren't my bulbs blooming?" "There are a lot of leaves on them but not a single flower." Tractors and Their History I recently bought a small tractor for my garden, which prompted me to right this article. Want a Garden, But Don?t have Enough Dirt Or Space? Hydroponics Gardening Is The Answer! Hydroponics gardening is the perfect solution for anybody who wants a garden, but does not have enough space or dirt. Hydroponics gardening is, simply put, a method of growing plants using a nutrient solution instead of dirt. With hydroponics gardening, you are able to grow beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables virtually anywhere you want. Home for a Gnome? Kitsch is defined by several dictionaries as relating to poor quality or gaudy art objects that appeal to "low-brow" taste. But in the garden, kitsch categorizes folksy or commercial art that's viewed condescendingly by some, and with irony by others. It's this irony (this stuff is so bad it's good) that has made items such as pink flamingos and garden gnomes more widely popular in recent years. Creativity with Ponds Here's where your creative instincts kick in. This is where you make your pond your own. Basically, it's landscaping, but with a pond it can really become an artistic endeavor. How to Grow Basil Today there are sprays, scented candles, plug-ins, and even discs that promise to freshen your air by putting a variety of aromas into your home. However, when you know how to grow basil, you can have enough variety of fragrance to package your own potpourri! The most commonly grown basil is the annual, ocimum basilicum that carries a minty fragrance that smells like? well, it smells like sweet basil. In addition to having a wonderful fragrance, sweet basil is an essential ingredient in soups, stews, pesto sauce, and just about any tomato dish. Knowing how to grow basil is a must for every herb gardener. You can grow herbs both indoors and outdoors Lazy Fish Worries If your fish hang out at the bottom of the pond, or act restless and lazy, then it's likely that your pond is suffering from poor aeration. Can Your Sundial Really Tell The Time? "I am a sundial, and I make a botch Of what is done far better by a watch" The Benefits of Landscaping How much have you thought about landscaping? Do you know that a beautiful and well put together lawn has many benefits? Landscaping is lawn art and, like any other art form, it takes time, patience, and research to get your methods just right. So, what other benefits does landscaping provide besides just being "pretty"? Lawn Edging How do you make those flowers bloom where they are planted and not go overboard and how do you make your turf stick to its own turf and not edge into your flower beds, borders, and garden spaces? Lawn edging is the answer! Rock Gardens - A Different Kind of Garden Planting a Rock Garden is a great alternative to the normal flower and vegetable garden. All about Tulip Gardens As the curtain of winter lifts, tulips are one of the first flowers to take the spring stage. As the last drifts of snow seep into the soil, these bright signs of spring dance in the sunlight. However, you don't have to wait for spring to grow tulips. Whether it lies in a bed, under a shrub, in the crevices of a rock garden or in a container, a tulip bulb is an underground flower factory just waiting to "spring up" from whatever soil it occupies. Add Value to Your Home - Landscaping Just recently my friend had his house appraised between $800,000 and $815,000 by two different independent house valuators. He spent two days hard work in the garden placing new grass on mats, bringing in new plants, putting creepers on the wall, and adding a water feature. He sold his house at an auction two weeks later for $853,500. It only took him a few hours of his work and a few thousand dollars to make a lot of profit.
|
|
|
|
|
