Hummingbirds - "Nature's Helicopter"

The Missouri Department of Conservation wants to help you discover nature and learn more about nature’s helicopter, the ruby-throated hummingbird.
Found throughout Missouri, the hummingbird is a tiny bird with a long, needle-like bill.
It hovers, and flies forward and backward with a humming sound.
Similar to a helicopter, hummingbirds beat their wings on a horizontal plane, averaging 50 to 70 beats per second!
You can enjoy hummingbird visitors by providing food sources for them in your garden or yard.
The most popular and easiest way to enjoy hummingbird viewing is to put up a red base hummingbird feeder that you can keep your sugar water in.
As you would expect, their high activity level and unique flight requires lots of energy. Hummingbirds have to consume about half their body weight in food every day.
Make your own “nectar” by mixing one part sugar with four parts water, and boiling it.
Change the water every few days and be sure to rinse the feeder with warm water.
Whether they’re feeding daintily from a nectar feeder or from flowers in your garden, it’s hard to find a bird more delightful to watch.
Learn more about attracting hummingbirds to your neighborhood: