Most of the hybridized flowering tobaccos, especially Nicotiana mutabilis, are liked by hummingbirds because of their nectar, but to date I have not seen one ruby-throated hummingbird go near these flowers. I'm guessing that in spite of their long tongues, the rubythroats can't reach their nectar while South American hummingbirds are adapted to this. That's how nature works.
It takes a lot of time for an animal species to adapt to new food sources just as it takes a long time for a living organism to build up an immunity to a new disease. And currently there's a crisis in the world of North American bats that scientists are making progress on but which they still don't know how to solve.
During the winter of 2006-2007, dead bats with a white, fuzzy substance around their noses, or nuzzles, began to be found in New York state and since then millions of bats have died from White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). It's been determined that this disease is caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans that germinates below, not above as you'd think, 68 degrees. It was brought to this country from Europe where apparently most bats have developed an immunity to it. But that's not the case here and now the disease is spreading at an alarming rate down the East Coast and to the west as far as Illinois and probably even farther.
People in general don't like bats. They automatically think every bat is rabid or still believe the old wives' tale that the animal's going to drop into their hair or come after them. Both of these beliefs aren't true but bats still aren't and never will be on most people's "favorite animals" lists.
However, you don't have to like something or think it's pretty to appreciate or become knowledgeable about it. I often wonder how many people would change their minds about bats if they knew that each individual bat is capable of eating 3,000 or more insects each night. Bats naturally control detrimental agricultural pests that would cost our agricultural businesses billions of dollars to do on their own, a cost that would be reflected in everything you buy at the grocery store.
In an effort to properly assess this problem, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking information on both dead bats and healthy colonies, and their website provides forms for reporting both things. Go to www.pgc.state.pa.us, scroll down to Wildlife, and then go to PA bats. If you want to report the bats you see flying around your neighborhood as dusk turns to night, go to the Appalachian Bat Count page. There you'll find out how you can help both nature and yourself without spending any money, leaving home or using any gas.