22 - Friday, March 1 12, YOU’RE WORRIED about 1993 ~ North | Shore News ers RRSP contributions, tax returns, insurance coming due, the works. The last thing you need is another deadline. But clear your desk and perk up your cars. This deadline is for an investment that will show greai returns — year after year. I’m referring, of course, to the necessity of getting your hum- mingbird feeder up and ready for the arrival of the Rufous hum- mingbird, who has started his migratory trek from Mexico and is en route to Alaska. On average, the Rufous hum- mingbird arrives in this area on March 22, a herald of spring if ‘ever there was one. Its name refers to its reddish- brown color, a hue called “rufous”? that 1 had never before known existed until reading The Hummingbird Book by Donald and Lillian Stokes. Other amazing hummingbird facts have presented themselves in the course of this research, some - _of which I. will share with you here in the attempt to arouse your interest to the point where you will be joining other hummer- lovers and putting out your feeder next week, © A. hummingbird’s 1,260 times per minute. ® Arresting hummingbird takes 250 breaths per minute. @A:male tuby- throated hum- tingbird’s' wings can, beat 78 times per second during a regular flight and up to 200 times per se- cond during a display dive. @ The smallest hummingbird in the world,, the bee hummingbird of Cuba, is only 2% inches Jong. © A hummingbird’s egg is -less . than half an inch long — half the size of a jellybean. ® The Rufous hummingbird ‘has the longest migration route of any hummingbird. Some fly up to ’ 3,000 miles from the edge of their breeding range in Alaska to their wintering grounds in Mexico. ® Ruby-throated hummingbirds fly 500 miles non-stop across the Gulf of: Mexico on their. migra- tion. Before starting, they increase their body weight by 50%, storing energy as fat to burn while cross- ing. ; Hummingbirds fulfill an impor- GREAT, GREAT | LUXURY CARS! : H 1991 Oldsmobile BR ancy 8 Elite Model ull size luxury — Save | vA over new $22,222! f 1990 Oldsmobile 98 Touring Sedan — Rare — B the ultimate, with leather # 1 & roof, $22,222! BH 1988 Oldsmobile Delta fy 88 Royale — gorgeous B with just 66,000 km — a fully bptioned $12,2 222! heart beats CHEV e GEO OLDS # 845 MARINE DR.,N.VAN. §. F (Closed Sunday for browsing) H moms COLLECT summon | . ECO INFO tant task in our gardens by trans- porting pollen from one blossom to another as they use | their tongues to lick nectar from the flowers - When first setting out your feeder, it is desirable to place it near any blooming ‘‘humuuingbird flowers’ to best attract the birds’ attention. According to the Wild Birds ‘Nature Shop, the following are some of the tocal plants that are most attractive to hummers: Shrubs: azaleas, flowering quince, lilac, salmonberry, weigela, red- flowering current (red lake variec- ty), Butterfly bush and Beauty bush. . Vines: honeysuckle trumpet {dropmore scarlet, variety), scarlety runner bean, trumpet and creeper vine. Flowers: bee balm, canna, ‘cardi- nal flower, columbine, coral bells, foxglove, fuchsia, gladiola, hollyhocks, petunia, phlox, and sage. ~ Trees: horsechestnut and flower- ing pea. Providing a varied habitat, with sun, shade, water sources and trees for shelter, may even en- courage the birds to nest there. The chances are that your return time-line and pocketbook don't allow you to rush out and replant your garden at this particular juncture, but take stock of what natural resources your porch, patio or garden offer and make the best of those. You may find you have some flowering vines or shrubs growing wild that just need to be given some space and a chance at some sunlight. Water can be provided in any shallow dish, with a few rocks in- side to provide very shallow areas in which the birds can perch. Once the birds are familiar with your feeder, you can move it from their flowers to a location that of- fers better viewing for you. It’s easy to make the sugar water for the feeder, Add one part sugar to four parts warm water and stir ‘until sugar is dissolved. If you are going to be storing some mixture in the refrigerator, the water should be boiled. Do not use honey or artificial sweetners in place of the sugar — the former because it ferments and can cause 2 fungus that harms the hummers’ tongues, the latter because it has no energy value. It’s new recommended that you do not add red dye to the water, as it is not yet known whether or not: this can be harmful to the birds, Feeders should be cleaned about every four or five days, more often when weather is hot as the liquid can ferment and mould more rapidly then. If you find you have armies of ants marching down the string on- to the feeder for a free meal, try blocking their passage with a bar- rier of petroleum jelly. Finally, if you’ve had a wildly successful hummingbird | season and think you should take your feeder down in the fall to en- courage the birds to continue‘ on their migratory path, don't worry. Birds will move on according to their own clock, not according to food availability. And ‘some hummers,. like the Anna’s hummingbird, winter here in Vancouver ard would appreci- ate some cold-weather care. NORTH SHORE LIGHT OPERA ‘SOCIETY presents GILBERT a SULLIVAN’S Patience A COMIC OPERA MARCH 72, 13, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 8:00 P.M. MARCH 14, 21 2:00 P.M. CENTENNIAL THEATRE 23RD & LONSDALE, N.VAN. Call the Centennial Threaure Box Office at 984-4484 or Ticket Master at 280-3311 or any staff member 985-3881 mee LCD U ED AT EON Rionday to Friday 10 AM-5 PM 3604 Variness Ave., Vancouver (4 bik. NW of Boundary & Kingsway) Direct from the closure of a major Canadian distributor, the entire remaining contents of high-end sinks, tubs, fixtures and accessories by Jado, Inda, Mamoll, Zazzeri, American Standard, Poucher and others from Italian, Germian, French, Spanish and American manufacturers, 50 to 70 % OFF 430-9509 St. Geneve Fine European Bedlinens and Duvets PROMOTIONAL SALE OF IN STOCK | AND SPECIAL ORDER ITEMS > including Schlossberg and Bonjour Linens March 12 to2l BEDDING SHOP 9326 W. Fourth Ave.. Vancouver: - ee 36-1828 If you have ever wanted to drive a Mercedes-Benz..: including anti-lock brakes, supplemental restraint/system, driver's side airbag and cotidipse- resistant seats, : Leasing a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 1OOE Special Edition is now more affordable than ever, Fora low monthly payment, you can drive this superbly. 77 crafted car, built to Mercedes- Lease $ Benz exacting standards of for A closed-end ledse is also available on this very remarkabie ‘car. . engineering and safety. All 1993 models are equipped with standard lOOE safety features Limited time offer Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. _ Retail Division’ *Lease based on 36 months, $7,455 downpayment and residual value of $16,692 Total Price $36,135, O. plus laxes