July is a good time to prepare for the yearly visit of some colorful characters. No, not Aunt Martha and Uncle Horace. We're talking about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, common in the Houston area during their fall (August-October) and Spring (March-May) migration.

Both males and females have green iridescent plumage, but only the adult male has a crimson throat. In addition to being colorful, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are aerial acrobats -- able to fly up, down, forward, backward and sideways, even stopping in midair. Flying at an average speed of 25 mph, their wings beat about 60-80 times per second and make a buzzing sound. These are tiny birds -- so small that an insect, the praying mantis, is a natural enemy.

Hummers live on a combination of flower nectar and tiny insects. They lap up and collect nectar with their grooved tongues. When their bill constricts, the bird can swallow the nectar.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds is their 600-mile migration across the Gulf of Mexico. Most Ruby-throats winter between southern Mexico and northern Panama. They begin moving north in January, gorging on insects and spiders to build up a thick layer of fat, doubling their weight in preparation for the flight back to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Some follow the Texas coast north, but many leave at dusk to cross the Gulf on an 18-22 hour nonstop flight. When they reach the U.S., they may weigh only 2.5 grams.

The urge to migrate in the fall is triggered by shorter days, not temperature or the availability of food. Fewer Ruby-throats cross the Gulf in the fall than in the spring; the hurricane season may be a factor. Do hummingbirds really ride on the backs of geese during migration? Unfortunately for hummers, they do not!

A variety of colorful plants is the best way to attract hummingbirds to your yard. Try to plan for flowers in the fall and winter. According to the Audubon Society, these are a few hummingbird-friendly choices for the Houston area: red buckeye, mimosa, coral bean, flowering quince, shrimp plant, coral berry, hibiscus, lantana, wisteria, cypress vine, bougainvillea, Gulf Coast penstemon, Turk's cap, salvia, pentas, and cigar flower.

Hummingbird feeders are a supplement to flower nectar and an excellent way to see the birds up close. Creatures of habit, Ruby-throats develop their own paths to food and check them frequently and on a daily basis. It's best to place your feeder near a flowering plant and fill it only one-third or halfway. Clean every 3 to 4 days with hot water and a soft brush, and replace with fresh nectar, as sooty mold can form quickly in our climate.

There's no need to buy commercial nectar; it's very easy to make: 4 parts hot water to 1 part sugar. Please do not add red food coloring to the mix. As long as there is some red on the feeder, the hummingbirds will find it.

It's not necessary to take down your feeder in the winter, but if you choose to keep it up, be sure to maintain it. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds that stay behind (due to illness or age) will rely on it.

Have fun attracting these remarkable birds and exploring your own backyard!

© Carol Wells, 2008