HUMMINGBIRDS WAITING IN WINGS

For hummingbird lovers, the watch has begun.

Hummingbirds have begun their migration from Central America and the Caribbean. A Web site tracking the trek north records a siting as far north as Jackson, Tenn.

"In two or three weeks you will see them coming back to Missouri," promises Dr. Bill Eddleman, an ornithologist at Southeast Missouri State University.

Nearly 60 hummingbird lovers crowded into the Hirsch Community Room at the Cape Girardeau Public Library Monday night to hear Eddleman talk about the birds. The program was sponsored by the Four Season Audubon Society.

Interim President Donna Maguire and other members gave out free royal catchfly, cardinal climber and St. John's fire plants and seeds that will grow into plants called scarlet sage, red hot poker and hummingbird vine -- all known to attract hummingbirds.

Missouri is not a particularly good area for seeing hummingbirds. Many more species populate the West.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the species most often seen in Missouri.

Hummingbirds without ruby throats most often are females or immature males of the same species.

A ruby-throated hummingbird is 3 inches long, weighs one-eighth of an ounce and flies up to 60 mph hour, beating its wings 75 times a second.

Hummingbirds are difficult to attract.

Red lures birds

Eddleman says tubular blossoms and the color red are key to luring them into your yard.

One woman in the audience said her husband is set upon when he wears a red hat.

Combining plants with feeders is advised. The nectar in the feeder should be one part sugar to four parts water and does not need to be dyed, Eddleman said, and the feeder should be cleaned periodically to prevent the growth of bacteria.

The birds also eat insects and pollen.

Eddleman realizes that making sure hummingbirds have enough to eat is not most people's motivation. "We're feeding hummingbirds so we can watch them," he says.

Franklin School student Trenten Stroder, 8, said his grandparents have 150 hummingbird feeders on their farm.

He asked Eddleman what to do if you get a hummingbird caught in your heater vent. Eddleman has been asked thousands of questions about hummingbirds, but never that one before.

Bob Byers, a Cape Girardeau retiree, finds hummingbirds fascinating.

"You don't see them very often and they're hard to attract," he said.

He has given up on feeders and is going to try some of the plants distributed at the meeting.

Data on hummingbirds are limited because they are so small and difficult to band. The routes they follow on their migration is unknown, for instance.

"There is a lot we don't know about hummingbirds," Eddleman said.