Hummingbirds bring joy to Moorpark artist
By Meg Boberg Special to the Acorn

Magda Hoppe and flying friend

When Magda Hoppe mentions her "little darlings," she's not talking about her tiny-tot relatives. Rather, she's referring to creatures no bigger than her nose. Hoppe is the proud caretaker of her own hummingbird garden.

"I'm absolutely nuts over any animal," Hoppe said. "I don't care what it is- bird, cat, lion or tiger."

Hummingbirds fascinate Hoppe. The "super flying machines" flap their wings at speeds up to 90 mph or 15 times per second. The birds weigh less than one-tenth of an ounce.

Measuring only 600 square feet, Hoppe's garden is an oasis for her iridescently feathered friends. Nine birdfeeders and a running water fountain keep the birds coming back to her yard on a daily basis.

The hairstylist, photographer and painter calls herself "Hungarian by birth, American by the grace of God." Hoppe emigrated from Hungary and settled in Canoga Park in 1968. The 20-year Moorpark resident calls her birds colibri, the Hungarian word for hummingbird.

"It's my calling to care for animals," said Hoppe, who owns a cat, two dogs and tends to the visiting birds in her backyard.

When she started her garden five years ago, Hoppe was eager to learn tips and tricks to attract hummingbirds. Hoope e-mailed Ross Hawkins of the Hummingbird Society organization with her questions.

The goal of The Hummingbird Society, founded in 1996, is to protect endangered species and educate hummingbird enthusiasts.

Hawkins read her e-mail, with contained a picture attachment of five hummingbirds at one feeder.

Hawkins encouraged Hoppe to buy more feeders to catch the attention of more birds.

The founder and executive director of the society, Hawkins said the best way to catch the attention of hummingbirds is to provide flowers, nectar and water.

"If you make friends with hummingbirds, they'll come back to you," Hawkins said. "Feed them one year and they'll come back to your yard again."

A constant supply of nectar makes Hoppe a friend for dozens of hummingbirds. Hoppe buys 12 pounds of sugar to make nectar each week just for the birds. The nectar is made of one part table sugar and four parts water.

Five hummingbirds on the same feeder is a common site for Hoppe. She names the birds who visit often. Ivan the Terrible is one of the smallest but feistiest birds, guarding his territory from other birds.

"Ivan's always sitting on the edge of a feeder waiting for the enemy," she said.

The entertainment and relaxation of their garden keep the Hoppes buying more feeders.

"Szeretettel tölem es a colibri csaláoltol," Hoppe says to her guests, which is Hungarian for "my best wishes from me and my hummingbird family."