Landscapes and Hummingbirds

My recent article Landscapes and Hummingbirds asks "What do hummingbirds like?"

To answer that question, I turn to many sources along with my own observations. Most often I refer to these two WWW sites:

• The Hilton Pond Nature Center staff, mostly Bill Hilton, send out a weekly e-mail letter to tell what is happening at the Center. It includes a link to the Center site. This week (15-21 May 2006), Bill features an article about Mountain Lake, VA which also shows a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a female hummingbird that took advantage of his hospitality, plus an active Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will often lap sap from holes made by sapsuckers. Also, because Hilton Pond is not in my growing zone, I get an early look at spring and summer.
• Dunncraft Wild Bird Specialists calls its site "Living With Nature." Yes, this is a commercial site, but one with a "down home feeling" that offers tips and advice for attracting birds including "hummers." It can be a source for unusual items, like the brush, I found to clean hummer feeders, as well as hard-to-find types of birdseed. Dunncraft also offers an e-mail letter with content that complements, but is different from what is on the site and includes the occasional promotion or discount. One of the Dunncraft partners is a neighbor who tries out products in her own yard as well as answers my questions. It's nice to go to pick up mail and have someone ask how your hummers and orioles are doing!