Native only to the Americas, hummingbirds are one of the most amazing members of the animal kingdom. In Mexico, they are considered good luck to have in your garden. In San Miguel de Allende, we are fortunate to have a large concentration of many species of hummingbirds, from our year-round residents to our winter migrants (just like the human population!) They are wonderful aerial acrobats, delightful to watch for hours. And we have all witnessed their fierce battles in our gardens, fighting over the drops of nectar in our bugambilias and the blossoms in our citrus trees. They are important pollinators for many plants and are great for keeping down the insect pests in your garden. (Did you know that up to 30% of their diet is small insects?)

Audubon is pleased to welcome Jim McKeever and Alfredo García-Lucio from Camino Silvestre for our next lecture at the Biblioteca. They will discuss how to identify the different types of hummingbirds we can see in San Miguel (7 species currently!) and tips for feeding them in your garden with plants and feeders. Jim and Alfredo are the owners of Parasol, a US company specializing in hummingbird feeders, bird feeders, and garden ornaments. In their 15 years at Parasol, Jim and Alfredo have changed the bird-feeding industry by providing beautiful alternatives of recycled blown-glass and ceramic feeders, proudly made in Mexico. Late last year, they opened Camino Silvestre in San Miguel de Allende, the first birding store in Mexico with a beautiful selection of birding, bird feeding and nature related items. They are also sponsors of the Hummingbird Society, a group based in Sedona, Arizona, dedicated to promoting the understanding and conservation of hummingbirds. Alfredo also serves on the board of directors of the Audubon Society of San Miguel.

Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures. Though tiny, they can fly for hours and thousands of miles. They are aerodynamic marvels, able to fly in place, move rapidly up and down, or side to side, and can even fly backwards. Jim and Alfredo will give tips on how to easily identify the hummingbirds in your garden and to look out for the uncommon ones. Winter is approaching, so they will also give you tips on how to look out for them during the upcoming chilly mornings and evenings.

Audubon San Miguel hopes to see you at this presentation.
October 11 at 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana in the Biblioteca
Insurgentes 25
It is free to members of Audubon San Miguel
60 pesos for non-members.