THE hummingbirdamong the most fascinating birds, they are facing an unexpected change: they are evolving physically due to the growing human presence in their natural habitats. An example? The increasingly widespread use of artificial drinking designed to attract them in urban gardens.
If on the one hand these tools allow many people to admire these creatures up close, on the other they are having side effects. Some scientific studies suggest that the continuous and easily accessible power supply provided by the drinking troughs is changing the form of the beaks of some species.
Becchi are becoming longer and pointeda change that could derive from the need for defend access to food in the presence of other specimens, often in contexts of strong competition.
Better to plant flowers
But that’s not all. Also the spread of Non -native arboreal species introduced in urban areas has contributed to the expansion of some populations, in particular that of Colibrì di Annawidespread in North America. These trees, with their blooms rich in nectar, represent an additional source of easy and abundant food.
The problem is that these comforts are transforming the colibrì into dining speciesthat is, animals that take advantage of the closeness with humans without offering anything in return. It is the same process it made pigeons and seagulls Fixed appearances of cities: animals that have adapted to live on our waste or habits.
So what to do? Abandoning the drinking troughs is not necessary, but you have to use them with responsibility. The ideal would be plant tubes with bright colors like red, yellow, purple or pinkwhich represent a natural and healthier source of nourishment. Among the recommended species there are the limon grass and the lavender.
If you cannot grow, you can still use a drinking trough, as long as it is in glassis filled only with water and sugar cooking and yes clean frequently (at least every three days). With small precautions, biodiversity can be helped without interfering too much with natural balance.
