Everybody's happy when hummingbirds see red

Everyone loves to watch hummingbirds. Although the ruby-throated hummingbird is the most common variety seen in our part of the world, black-chinned and rufous hummingbirds occur here in smaller numbers. Occasionally, you might spot a couple of other kinds that have strayed from their usual flyways.

Hummingbirds need food, water, space and shelter to survive. They feed primarily on nectar from flowers, but when flowers are scarce, they rely on tree sap exposed by sapsuckers for the sugar that gives them energy. Supplemental dining on gnats, fruit flies, aphids, moths and other insects provides the hummingbird diet with the necessary protein and minerals.

Southwest Floridians are fortunate because we can attract the fascinating little creatures to our yards year round. Commer- cial hummingbird feeders come in many shapes and designs, and nearly all of them have at least a bit of bright red color somewhere on them to attract the birds. Some people advise tying a red ribbon to the feeder for added attraction.

If you buy a feeder with perches, you can watch your hummingbird visitors sit and sip. They do just as well without perches, however, since they can hover while they feed (which can be more fun for the birdwatcher).

Select your feeder not only by how it looks but also by how easy it is to fill and clean.

Some feeders come with a commercial food mix, but you can easily make your own hummingbird nectar. Here's my favorite recipe: Bring a mixture of four parts water to one part white sugar to a boil for at least five minutes to sterilize it. Let it come to room temperature before filling your feeder. Never use honey or brown sugar to make hummingbird nectar, because they can cause a fungus fatal to the sweet little birds. It's also wise to avoid adding red food coloring to the nectar, as many experts suspect it is harmful to the birds. The red feeder itself is enough to attract the hummers.

Clean your feeder frequently with water and a weak vinegar solution, rinsing very well before adding fresh sugar water. When the temperature is consistently over 80 degrees, it's best to clean the feeder and change the nectar every three days in order to prevent spoilage.

Hummingbirds cannot survive on sugar water from feeders along, however. If you have bright flowers blooming, place a feeder near them. A simple pot of annual petunias or fuchsia might be enough. It's also a good idea to place a feeder near trees. Hummers like to perch on tiny, high branches so they can see their surroundings and also be nearby cover.

If you have time and space, plant a hummingbird garden. In Florida you can have one that blooms year around. Flowering trees and shrubs such as firebush (Hamelia patens) and scarlet hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) bloom almost continuously. Wild butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea), trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) and coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) are also long bloomers. Annuals can fill in when perennials are resting. Because hummingbirds find flowers by sight and not smell, your garden doesn't need fragrant flowers.

Whatever flowers you plant, be sure to avoid any pesticides on or near them.

You'll be surprised how quickly hummingbirds find your feeders and flowers, and how they remember. Sometimes it's a matter of minutes before they arrive. Take care of them and they'll come back again and again.

Lee Belange r is a seasonal volunteer trail and canoe guide at Colli e r -S eminole State Park. To contact her, e-mail Lungwort@aol.com.

Take a hike or grab a paddle

Although guided canoe tours and hikes have ended for the summer, there's much to discover on your own at Collier-Seminole State Park:

>>Rent a canoe - Paddle down the Blackwater River through a mangrove forest toward the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy birding, fishing (salt water license required) or just a relaxing paddle in this outdoor wonderland. Rentals available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

>>Hike 11 miles of trails - Experience pine flatwoods, cypress areas and rare royal palm hammocks. One of three trails is interpretative, another allows for off-road biking, and a third has a remote campsite. Be sure to stop to register at the ranger station for the two longer trails and call ahead to reserve the campsite. Trails are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The park also offers picnicking, birding, fishing, camping, a boat ramp and a chance to see the historic "walking dredge" that was used to build the Tamiami Trail. The entrance to Collier-Seminole State Park is at 20200 U.S. 41 East, eight miles east of Highway 951. Park entrance fee is $4 for up to eight people in a car; there is an additional fee for camping. Call 392-3397 for more information.