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<H1 class=mainheadline><FONT size=4>from NorthJersy.com</FONT></H1>
<H1 class=mainheadline>National Pollinator Week observed at wildlife refuge in
Vernon</H1></DIV>
<DIV class=editDetailsv2>Friday, July 8, 2011 </DIV><!-- These are links to email the story, printer-friendly version and comment anchor. -->
<DIV class=storyauthorv2>BY JANET REDYKE</DIV>
<DIV class=storyauthorv2 style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px">CORRESPONDENT</DIV>
<DIV class=bylienv2>Aim Vernon</DIV><!--startclickprintexclude-->
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<P>June 20 through 26 has been designated as National Pollinator Week by the US
Department of Agriculture. Five years ago, the US Senate unanimously approved
and designated the final week in June for addressing and educating the public on
the necessity of pollinators and their declining numbers. The Wallkill River
National Wildlife Refuge celebrated our native pollinators: bees, birds,
butterflies, bats and beetles, with various talks, exhibits, walks and garden
tours during June’s last week.</P>
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<DIV class=storyboxbodyv2 id=storymedia style="MARGIN-TOP: 15px" sizset="136" sizcache="2"><A title="Refuge volunteer Giselle Smisko discusses the life and times of the ruby-throated hummingbird." href="http://media.northjersey.com/images/janet043_070811_ai_tif_.jpg" target=_largephoto><IMG title="Refuge volunteer Giselle Smisko discusses the life and times of the ruby-throated hummingbird." height=231 alt="Refuge volunteer Giselle Smisko discusses the life and times of the ruby-throated hummingbird." src="http://media.northjersey.com/images/300*231/janet043_070811_ai_tif_.jpg" width=300 name="Refuge volunteer Giselle Smisko discusses the life and times of the ruby-throated hummingbird."></A>
<DIV class=photographerv2>PHOTOS/JANET REDYKE </DIV>
<DIV class=photocaptionv2>Refuge volunteer Giselle Smisko discusses the life and
times of the ruby-throated hummingbird. </DIV></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV class=storyboxbodyv2 id=storymedia style="MARGIN-TOP: 15px" sizset="137" sizcache="2"><A title="Smisko shows an actual ruby-throated hummingbird's nest to her audience at the Wallkill River Refuge." href="http://media.northjersey.com/images/janet045_070811_ai_tif_.jpg" target=_largephoto><IMG title="Smisko shows an actual ruby-throated hummingbird's nest to her audience at the Wallkill River Refuge." height=231 alt="Smisko shows an actual ruby-throated hummingbird's nest to her audience at the Wallkill River Refuge." src="http://media.northjersey.com/images/300*231/janet045_070811_ai_tif_.jpg" width=300 name="Smisko shows an actual ruby-throated hummingbird's nest to her audience at the Wallkill River Refuge."></A>
<DIV class=photocaptionv2>Smisko shows an actual ruby-throated hummingbird's
nest to her audience at the Wallkill River Refuge. </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<P>On Monday June 20, refuge volunteer Giselle Smisko presented a slide show and
discussion on the "Jewels of the Garden" or ruby-throated hummingbirds.</P>
<P>"The ruby-throated hummingbird is the species of hummingbird prevalent in New
Jersey and the only one that breeds here," said Smisko.</P>
<P>There are in total 18 species in North America, most in the western states.
Smisko, also a volunteer at the Avian Rehabilitation Center in Wantage, has
taken care of injured and disabled birds, including hummingbirds.</P>
<P>"I know birds through binoculars and also in hand," Smisko grinned.</P>
<P>Hummingbirds are extremely difficult to care for because of their size and
their need to constantly feed. Caring for an injured hummingbird requires Smisko
to feed it every 20 minutes.</P>
<P>Hummingbirds are commonly named because of the humming sounds made by their
wings, which beat 53 times per second. The ruby-throated hummingbird can fly an
average of 27 mph, with reported speeds up to 60mph. Their wings, unlike regular
birds, rotate from the shoulder, making for varied flight and hovering. Their
species’ name Apodiformes, which means "no feet," is not exactly accurate.
Hummingbirds do have super tiny feet, used for perching, they technically can
not walk.</P>
<P>Zooming from flower to flower, hummingbirds are truly a native pollinator in
New Jersey, at least during our warm spring and summer months. Smisko encouraged
the group to try to attract hummingbirds to their backyards by planting native
flowers like jewelweed, lilacs and tubular flowers like petunias and
impatiens.</P>
<P>"They are attracted to the color red," she explained. "However, they look for
the flowers with the sweetest nectar which are not always red."</P>
<P>An extreme pollinator, the ruby-throated hummingbird can carry 10 times more
pollen than an average bee. Smisko also discussed the use of very popular
hummingbird feeders, suggesting glass feeders are best and cleanest. Preparation
of the feeders’ sugar water solution is one part sugar for four parts water,
heated but not boiled.</P>
<P>"The solution must be changed every other day to avoid the growth of mold,"
Smisko stated.</P>
<P>Hummingbirds can easily be poisoned by moldy solution, causing neurological
problems to the birds. Smisko suggested use of hummingbird feeders only toward
the end of a rough, dry summer, when flowers become
scarce.</P></DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>