Hummingbirds
VISITORS FEED HUMMINGBIRDS BY HAND IN OHIO’S HOCKING HILLS
Visitors to Southeast Ohio’s Hocking Hills can now feed hummingbirds by hand at L
ake Hope State Park, adding to the already incredible number of unusual sites and adventures the region offers travelers. Each Wednesday and Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., beginning Wednesday, June 29, and running through Labor Day, visitors to Lake Hope State Park will learn to feed humming birds by hand. Guests are shown a video and taught the best techniques for standing perfectly still and luring the illusive ruby-throated hummingbirds to a hand-held feeder. There is no charge for this unique hummingbird experience.
Lake Hope State Park Naturalist Dave Sapienza placed hummingbird feeders around Lake Hope in early April. Beginning in June, Sapienza will remove the regular feeders and work with each visitor to make a hand feeder using plastic floral tubes filled with sugar water and decorated with permanent marker and red pipe cleaners. The visitor then stands in a spot where a regular feeder is typically placed. In most cases, hummingbirds alight on the hand-held feeders for a one-of-a-kind nature experience.
“In the heat of summer, in July and August, we may see 20-to-30 birds come at one time,” said Sapienza. “This is an amazing opportunity for all ages, though kids may find it a little more difficult to stand still.” According to Sapienzza, the best time to view large numbers of hummingbirds is right after a thunderstorm.
In addition to hummingbird feeding, The Old Bear’s Den Workshop Center will host a Hummingbird Wildlife Photography Workshop, Saturday, July 19 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The workshop costs $149 per person and includes lunch.
Beyond the many unique natural and cultural attractions, the Hocking Hills offers wide variety of accommodations, from camping and cabins to hotels and country inns, offer plenty of affordable lodging options. In addition to numerous hiking trails, parks and forests, the Hocking Hills area offers unique gift and antique shops, canoeing, horseback riding, golf and more
