Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Follow these tips to draw hummingbirds

Paula DelGiudice

Wednesday, June 21, 2000 | 10:06 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears Wednesday. Reach her at PDelGiudice@compuserve.com.

One of the best parts of summer in Las Vegas is watching the creatures in our city that don't normally hang out here. (And I don't mean those tourists down on the Strip.)

As the sun sets and the street lights begin to shine, bats come out of their daytime hideaways and swarm to the insects that are attracted by the lights. Bighorn sheep come out of the mountains looking for a drink or some nice green vegetation. They are commonly seen on the shores of Lake Mead, along the Colorado River and even in some local subdivisions.

I especially like to watch for hummingbirds during the summertime. These diminutive acrobats of the sky flit from nectar source to nectar source, dazzling spectators with their beautiful feathers.

According to the Humane Society's Urban Bird Sanctuary Program, not everyone gets to see such a wide variety of types of hummingbirds as is possible here, in that the Southwest enjoys the greatest diversity of hummingbird species.

In the East, the ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species to make its annual migration appearance after wintering in Central America. In the West, the diversity is greater. Most of the 320 known species of the hummingbird family, however, are found in the tropics, from Mexico to Peru and Brazil.

You can invite these beautiful birds into your own habitat by providing the plants they find attractive and keeping their needs in mind as you design your outside space.

According to the Humane Society, plant tubular flowers in the hummingbird's favorite colors: red or orange. (In Las Vegas some perennials that do particularly well are Lantana and Trumpet Creeper.) Mix plant height and flowering times, clumping individual plant species together and placing taller plants toward the back. Use native plants whenever possible. Plant flowers near a tree that can offer protection from weather and predators. Do not use pesticides or herbicides. Add a birdbath with a mister or a dripper.

Many people hang hummingbird feeders, then become disappointed when millions of ants are the only ones to come close to it.

The Humane Society recommends smearing salad oil or petroleum jelly around the feeder opening to discourage insects from using it. I never found this approach very helpful. Craig Tufts, chief naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation, said that he prefers to use the feeders with the cup above it designed to hold oil. I haven't tried this method because this type of feeder is difficult to find.

There are some other suggestions to keep your feeder in top shape for hummingbirds.

Choose one that disassembles easily for cleaning and then make sure to clean it every few days without using soap or detergent.

To fill your feeder, mix one part granulated white sugar with four parts water. Bring the water to a boil, add sugar and remove the pan from heat. Make sure to allow the mixture to cool completely before filling your feeder.

Don't use red food coloring to attract the birds. Never use honey in your feeder. It can kill hummingbirds. Rely instead on a red-colored feeder or attach a red ribbon to your feeder.

One you've established your feeder, keep it filled. You'll be amazed at how long the birds will come looking for that feeder, and you wouldn't want to disappoint them. They must consume half their body weight in insects and nectar each day to keep up their activities.

For websites you'll find useful, try: www.hummingbird.org (The Hummingbird Society), www.rubythroat.org (Operation Ruby Throat, a collaborative study in which students, teachers, and others can take part) and www.sabo.org/birding/resource htm (Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory for news, activities, photos and links).

Topics to be covered include fish identification, baits, tackle, rigging and locating fish. Rods and reels will be provided for those who do not have their own equipment. The event is open to adults and children. For more information, contact Ivy Santee at NDOW at 486-5127, ext. 3503.

In addition to regulations, the 40-page booklet lists license fees, tag fees and permits, big game quotas, legal hunting hours and information on the state's wildlife management areas. Also included are tables that list sunrise and sunset times for various areas of the state.

NDOW offices are located at 4747 W. Vegas Drive in Las Vegas and 744 South Racetrack Road in Henderson. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed on state holidays.