The Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a small, yet remarkable bird native to the west coast of North America. Known for its iridescent emerald and rose plumage and remarkable flying abilities, these tiny birds bring joy with their beauty and energy. As spring arrives, Anna’s hummingbirds begin their intricate mating rituals and nest building in preparation for raising the next generation. However, habitat loss combined with climate change threatens these beloved birds. In this article we talk about How to Support Anna’s Hummingbird Breeding and Habitat Conservation.
Anna’s Hummingbird Breeding Basics
Anna’s hummingbirds breed between December and August depending on their range, with courtship beginning in late fall and winter. The male performs dramatic aerial displays, flying up to 130 feet in the air before diving down at high speeds making loud chirping sounds with his tail feathers. If a female is impressed, she will allow the male to mate with her.
After mating, the female begins building a small, delicate nest out of plant down, spider webs, lichens, and moss, binding it together with strands of bark and small feathers. She typically places the nest on the outer branches of trees or tall shrubs around 3 to 20 feet off the ground. The female lays a very small clutch of just two tiny white eggs about the size of jellybeans. She incubates the eggs for about 16 to 18 days before they hatch.
The chicks are born helpless, naked, and with their eyes closed. The female alone feeds and cares for the chicks, protecting them from predators. She feeds them small insects and nectar numerous times a day by inserting her long bill into their mouths. After about 18 to 23 days, the chicks fledge and leave the nest. However, the mother may continue to feed them for a couple more weeks as they build flight skills and independence. From egg to fledging takes only about 5 weeks, meaning Anna’s hummingbirds can produce up to 3 broods in a single breeding season if food is plentiful.
Threats to Breeding and Survival
Anna’s hummingbirds face habitat loss from urbanization and agriculture as native vegetation is removed for housing and farming. Climate change also threatens these birds through increasing droughts, wildfires, and storms which can destroy nesting areas and food sources. Pesticides reduce insect populations that chicks depend on for protein. Outdoor cats are predators of fledglings and nesting females. Finally, artificial feeders may provide supplemental food but also promote disease transmission when not cleaned properly.
Here are some tips for supporting Anna’s hummingbird conservation based on their breeding habitat needs:
Provide Native Flowering Plants
Increase native plants on your property, focusing on those that flower during the breeding season. Native plants have coevolved to best support native pollinators and insects that hummingbirds rely on. Good options include currants, gooseberries, manzanitas, California fuchsia, penstemons, monkey flowers, sage, buckwheat, and milkweed. Avoid modern hybridized varieties and non-native invasive species. Plant a diversity of flower colors and make sure something is blooming from February through August.
Water Sources
A clean, fresh water source provides drinking and bathing opportunities for hummingbirds. They prefer moving water such as from fountains, drip irrigation, or misters. Ensure water sources have a shallow or textured edge allowing small birds to perch and drink easily. Proper hydration supports breeding, nesting, and chick rearing.
Sheltering Trees and Shrubs
Anna’s hummingbirds often nest in oaks, sycamores, pines, cypress, willows, and other native trees. They also appreciate shrubs like California lilacs, bush anemone, and sages. Allow native vegetation to grow tall to provide shelter and nest sites. Trees and shrubs also provide protection from predators and harsh weather.
Limit Pesticide Usage
Chemical pesticides reduce essential insect populations that hummingbirds feed to their chicks. They can also leach into water supplies. Limit use of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, or grow an organic garden. Support natural predators such as birds, bats, lizards, spiders and praying mantises to control pests.
Proper Feeder Protocol
If using feeders, choose red colored, wide-mouthed feeders. Make a nectar solution of 1 part white, refined sugar to 4 parts hot water. Do not use honey, artificial sweeteners, food coloring, or brown sugar. Change nectar every 2 to 3 days in warm weather, or every 5 days if cooler. Rinse feeders with hot water only – no soap. Place out of reach of cats but with clear access for hummingbirds.
Keep Cats Indoors
Domestic and feral cats are responsible for billions of wild bird deaths each year. Keep pet cats inside, especially during nesting season. Support local Trap-Neuter-Return programs to humanely reduce feral cat colonies. Use deterrents like cat enclosures, bird feeder protectors, and motion-activated sprinklers. Educate neighbors on impacts of free-roaming cats.
Native Garden Certification Programs
Look into backyard certification programs like those through the National Wildlife Federation, Audubon Society, Wild Ones, or Bee City USA. These programs provide education and give recognition for supporting wildlife habitat through native plantings, removing invasives, limiting pesticides, and adding bird baths and nest boxes. Getting certified helps raise community awareness and creates a network focused on conservation.
Join Community Science Efforts
You can support Anna’s hummingbird research and conservation by joining community science programs like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch project. Participants monitor and record bird nests providing data researchers use to understand trends, identify threats, and guide policy across whole regions. Other programs like Hummingbirds at Home, Project FeederWatch and eBird also enrich our knowledge of hummingbird lives.
Support Habitat Conservation Policy
Support local urban growth boundaries, wildlife corridors, and habitat preservation through environmental organizations and public comment. Push for city programs that promote, fund, or offer rebates on native plantings. Advocate for park lands with native vegetation and climate-wise landscaping. Stay engaged in local conservation issues and ensure your voice encourages wildlife protections.
Spread Awareness
The more people understand and connect with hummingbirds, the more public interest and support for conservation funding grows. Talk to neighbors and friends about Anna’s hummingbirds, their charm and intelligence and challenges they face. Share photos and stories on social media to spark inspiration. The more people fall in love with hummingbirds, the more voices speak up on their behalf ensuring a brighter future.
With their speedy flying, charming chirps, and shimmering beauty, Anna’s hummingbirds uplift our communities and environments. By better understanding their breeding ecology and expanding our conservation efforts at home and beyond, we can secure a thriving future for these special birds. Supporting native plant habitats, reducing threats, participating in citizen science, and influencing policy are tangible actions you can take to create a more hummingbird friendly world for generations to come. I sincerely hope you find this “How to Support Anna’s Hummingbird Breeding and Habitat Conservation” article helpful.