Anna's hummingbird

Humming along

Did you know that the first Saturday in September is National Hummingbird Day? You do now! And what a terrific bird to celebrate. Hummingbirds, such as the Anna's hummingbird in this photo, are crucial to healthy ecosystems. Because they drink nectar from flowering plants, Anna's hummingbirds are even better pollinators than bumblebees.

They're also highly adaptable. While many other hummingbirds on the Pacific Coast of North America migrate to warmer areas as fall and winter approach, Anna's hummingbird can survive the cooler temps by bulking up its fat stores or, if necessary, slowing down its metabolism to cope with the cold.

If you don't know the words to the hummingbird national anthem, it's easy: Just hum along.