Head 'em up; move 'em out, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)! We admire TPWD for lassoing birders to participate in the annual Texas Hummingbird Roundup.

If you're new to Texas or to birding, Roundup participants observe hummingbirds year round, record what they see and plant hummingbird gardens. So you don't need a lasso, but you do need a good pair of binoculars and a willingness to keep a simple diary about hummers that whir into your life. TPWD then produces an annual hummingbird report in late spring.

Participation requires purchasing a modestly priced packet of materials, including a survey sheet, a quick reference guide to the 18 species of hummingbirds that call Texas home (at least for part of the year) and lots of other hummer information, such as garden tips.

One huge garden tip is that hummingbirds love Salvias, especially varieties of Salvia coccinea which are commonly known as Tropical Sage. In fact, hummingbirds enjoy so many kinds of Salvia and companion plants that our online catalog contains a Hummingbird Plant List. Please feel free to contact us for further suggestions. Our blog also provides ongoing buzz about hummingbirds with topics ranging from attracting them to keeping the little critters healthy.