Birdwatchers Turn Attention to Jamaica Hummingbird Attraction

Flying Jewels Attracted to Mystic Mountain's Specially Designed Hummingbird Garden


OTTAWA, Nov. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the national bird of Jamaica, it's no wonder that the purpose-built and specially designed hummingbird garden at Mystic Mountain Rainforest Adventures in Ocho Rios is a rated among the best Jamaica tours and is a top spot for visitors to view this speedy bird.

Mystic Mountain Rainforest Adventures is home to top Jamaica attractions like ziplining and bobsledding which attracts cruise shore visitors, tourists and...hummingbirds. Lucky bird lovers can visit the Jamaica Hummingbird Garden with the admission price to this sustainable, adventure park and day trip in Jamaica.

At least three of the hummingbirds at Mystic Mountain cannot be found outside of Jamaica – including the Western Streamertail, Jamaica's national bird. Endemic to Western Jamaica, this bold yellow-green and black feathered hummingbird is also known as the 'Doctor Bird' because the piercing motion it uses to eat nectar from flowers resembles the motion a doctor uses to give an injection.

Also found at Mystic Mountain are the Vervain Hummingbird, also known as 'Little Doctor Bird', which is the second smallest bird in the world at approximately 2.5 inches in total length; and the Jamaican Mango, a shimmering black-feathered hummingbird.

"Our gardeners have specifically designed the Jamaica Hummingbird Garden, incorporating plants known to attract and provide nectar for hummingbirds," says Max Patchen, general manager of Mystic Mountain Rainforest Adventures. "This has created a unique opportunity for visitors to see an unprecedented number and variety of hummingbirds in one place."

The range of hummingbird-attracting plants include the fast-growing passion flower vine, which boasts stunningly detailed purple blooms that are the optimal size and shape for pollination by hummingbirds; the cigar plant, an evergreen shrub that produces small, tubular, bright red to orange flowers a favourite colour of hummingbirds; and the pepper hibiscus, a tree-like plant with red flowers that do not open fully, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. Other hummingbird specific plants in the hummingbird garden include the fire spike, powder puff or red tassel tree, China hat and shrimp plant.

The garden is also an educational experience with interpretive signage throughout the garden paths that explain the history of hummingbirds across cultures, the different types of hummingbirds to be seen at Mystic Mountain Rainforest Adventures and how to attract and feed hummingbirds in a home garden.

For more information on Mystic Mountain Rainforest Adventures Jamaica, visit www.rainforestadventure.com.

About Rainforest Adventures

With adrenaline-inducing parks located in Costa Rica (both Pacific and Atlantic), Panama, Saint Lucia, Jamaica and Mexico, each Rainforest Adventures location serves as ecotourism attractions as well as wildlife and wilderness refuges. Since 1994, the company has been combining unique rainforest adventures (such as tram rides, bobsleds and zip lines), with exceptional, multi-lingual naturalist guides, giving each guest an educational, adventurous, sustainable and unforgettable rainforest experience. For more information, visit www.rainforestadventure.com.

Media Contacts:

Deirdre Campbell, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838, 250-882-9199 (cell) or deirdre@tartangroup.ca
Suzanne Girard Foote, Tartan Group: 917-370-7288 or suzanne@tartangroup.ca

Tartan Group, Tourism public relations


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The following pictures are available for download:

[Image] Rainforest Adventures Logo
[Image] hummingbird garden Jamaica