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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 27, 2006 Keep on feeding the winter hummers We saw a little hummingbird in the backyard the other morning. The hummingbird feeders were frozen, so we turned the waterfall on, and it seemed to be interested. Don't they migrate? -- Scott H., Medford Of the three species of hummers you usually see in Southern Oregon, two are long gone by this time of year, Scott. The rufous and calliope hummingbirds have pretty much split the scene by the end of September, wintering in points south. But little Anna's hummingbirds are still here in large numbers. That's why it's important that people who feed hummers continue to do so now. If a bird is accustomed to finding something to eat in a certain place, it will continue to look there. When nights are cold, a little food can make the difference between surviving or perishing for small birds. You have to bring those feeders in and put fresh "nectar" in them, Scott. In winter, go to a stronger mixture of sugar water (3 parts water to 1 part sugar instead of 4:1). Anna's hummingbirds seem to have worked their way north with the growth in popularity of bird feeding over the past 50 years, an instance of bird distributions being affected by humans. Hummers have the highest metabolism of any animals and consume their weight in nectar daily. At any moment of a cold spell, they are only a few hours from starving to death. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com