I never get hummingbirds in my garden, but last week we did spot one--it hovered around one of my potted plants for about ten minutes, then disappeared.

Drought forcing hummingbirds into suburban backyard gardens

Suburban residents may have noticed an influx of ruby-throated hummingbirds flitting around their backyards this summer.

The small birds are looking for food in new places because of the prolonged summer drought, experts said. The birds feed on the nectar of flowers and small insects like mosquitoes, gnats, fruit flies, small bees and spiders.

“The drought has caused a reduction in their natural food supply, so if they're looking for food in forest preserves and can't find it, they'll gravitate toward people's backyards, which are usually kept well-watered and full of food,” said Tim Joyce of Mount Prospect, who works at Wild Birds Unlimited, an upscale bird seed and supplies store with locations in Arlington Heights and Glenview.

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[link to www.dailyherald.com]