HUMMINGBIRD

HUMMINGBIRD by Nicole Davies. Illustrated by Jane Ray.

I've noticed a lot of chatter on Facebook about Hummingbirds recently as this is the time they typically begin their migration south. Hummingbirds are magnificent, but ferocious, little creatures created by God. Appearing as if covered in jewels with their iridescent feathering, these beautiful, flying gems are as brave as a lion when it comes to protecting their territory. More amazing than all of this, though, is their migration journey. These little balls of energy have been known to fly 500 miles without taking a single rest as they make their way across the Gulf of Mexico to Central America. Davies' book, Hummingbird, begins with a grandmother and granddaughter watching a hummingbird in their garden somewhere in Central or South America. Both the granddaughter and the hummingbird will be moving north soon, but the hummingbird becomes an ongoing connection between the grandmother and granddaughter as it continues its migration journey.

ALONGSIDE ACTIVITIES- Google maps of hummingbird migration. You can label states and countries that they pass through and where their final destination is.

-Did you know that there are 365 different species of the hummingbird? (One for every day of the year!) The United States is home to 15 different species although 9 others are spotted periodically across our borders.

-Plant flowers or offer feeders with sugar nectar (make sure your nectar does not contain red dye - you can find easy online recipes to make yourself) for these energetic little birds. Our hummingbirds love trumpet vines and hanging baskets filled with impatien flowers. I will occasionally catch them swooping through the zinnias.

-examine their fascinating beak and tongue as they hover over flowers, Google heart rate, and how many beats per minute on average the hummingbird moves its wings.

-Look up information on their nests. What are they typically constructed from? What is the general size? How many eggs do they lay, etc.