News

By Sanjana Gajbhiye Earth.com staff writer   https://www.earth.com/news/flowers-hear-bee-sounds-and-make-sweeter-nectar-in-response/ In terms of pollination, much of the spotlight shines on the color and scent of flowers. These features attract insects, especially bees, who help transfer pollen and ensure plant reproduction. But beneath this visual and olfactory spectacle, another sense may quietly shape this relationship: sound. Scientists have long studied how flowers use color and scent to communicate with their pollinators. But could they also be listening? For years, researchers overlooked the possibility that flowers might respond to the sounds of visiting pollinators. The low-volume acoustic signals created by insects during flight and foraging were...

Contrary to popular belief and studies on some hummingbird species, hummingbirds apparently have an active sense of smell. Hummingbirds can smell Dr. Roger Lederer ------------------------ Can Foraging Hummingbirds Use Smell? A Test with the Amazilia Hummingbird Amazila amaziliaPablo Núñez, Marcos Méndez, Isabel López-Rull

Bird banding is the main method to monitor hummingbird diversity and abundance, range expansion, and longevity. Measuring and banding the smallest birds in the world requires exact and small customized tools. Earlier hummingbird banders tinkered with many iterations of tools and bands until Lee Rogers, a former IBM engineer turned innovative toolmaker in Patagonia, started to design better tools to minimize the impact on hummingbirds. Link to Tucson Audubon

HUMMINGBIRD MARKET For the bird lover on your list, Hummingbird Market offers a meaningful and sustainable gift option. Specializing in premium feeders and expertly crafted nectar, this local business is dedicated to supporting the well-being of Arizona’s avian wildlife. Hummingbird Market’s nectar stands out for its unique formula, which replicates the nutrition hummingbirds naturally obtain from flowers. “We studied 237 flowers to replicate what hummingbirds consume in nature,” shares Douglas Everett, founder of Hummingbird Market. Their kits, featuring the Aspects Mini Feeder and proprietary nectar, are customer favorites. Designed to prevent leaks, deter pests, and ensure bird health, these kits...

We were recently mentioned in Southern Living Magazine regarding our opinion(s) about the 10 best hummingbird feeders of 2024. We agree with the Aspects and First Nature feeders and surely recommend the Best-1 hummingbird feeders.  https://www.southernliving.com/best-hummingbird-feeders-8598173