Hummingbirds 2024
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Avalon Gardens FarmHummingbirdsWe’re making sure you seize this opportunity to double your impact on this urgent Earth Day. Birds like the Rufous Hummingbird are at the “tipping point”, having lost 50% or more of their populations in the past 50 years and are on track to lose another half or more in the coming decades. The time to act is now. Donate Now
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When do Hummingbirds leave? As migrations starts, how to spot the flitting fliers
Cybele Mayes-Osterman
USA TODAY Aug 13, 2024
As summer vacations wrap up and kids return to school, one small bird is preparing for a monumental journey.Hummingbird migration season gets underway in August, sending the birds flying to warm destinations thousands of miles away to last out the cold winter months and bringing birdwatchers new opportunities to catch sight of them on their trip.
Weighing as little as 2 grams, hummingbirds don't appear to be formidable creatures. But every year as autumn approaches, many birds native to the U.S. set off on a long journey south in search of warmer climates and blooming flowers.
Chillier temperatures don't necessarily bother the birds, but finding new food sources is a top priority, said Chad Witko, the National Audubon Society's senior coordinator for avian biology.
"Migration is timed with flower phenology," Witko said. "When flowers are coming to bloom, that's when birds are trying to time their migration."
Hummingbirds cross Gulf of Mexico, travel more than 3,500 milesAbout 20 of the world's 363 known hummingbird species call the U.S. home, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Most are native to the western U.S., especially Arizona and southern Texas, said David Wiedenfeld, a senior conservation scientist with American Bird Conservancy. "East of the Mississippi, we really only have one kind," the Ruby-throated hummingbird, he said.
When migration season begins, Ruby-throated hummingbirds are still abundant throughout the eastern half of the U.S., according to the Audubon Society's online bird migration explorer tool. "By early October, they are starting to show up in Central America," Wiedenfeld said, and they settle in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica for the winter.
On their journey, some birds cross the Gulf of Mexico, cruising from the coast of Texas or Louisiana to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico without stopping, according to Wiedenfeld.
The trip takes them about 18 hours, "without landing, without eating, without drinking," he said. "For these little, tiny birds, it's a tremendous crossing."
The Rufous hummingbird, the only species of hummingbird native to Alaska, is an exceptionally far traveler. Birds traveling south could end up as far as California or Mexico during migration season, according to Wiedenfeld.
In January 2010, one Rufous hummingbird was caught and marked in Tallahassee, Florida. Six months later, the bird was caught again southeast of Anchorage – a journey of more than 3,500 miles, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.Ruby-throated hummingbirds, meanwhile, can reach as far north as Ontario, Canada, during the summer, before flying to Costa Rica over the winter months.
Rufous hummingbirds also have a unique looping migration pattern, Witko said. In the spring, they travel north along the Pacific Coast, but as the end of summer approaches, "those birds don't follow the coastline back south," Witko said. "They're migrating further east from the coast," including through the Rocky Mountains.
More: Spring is hummingbird migration season: Interactive map shows where they will be
Young hummingbirds face the journey aloneBird experts say not all hummingbirds depart at the same time. Males begin the journey first, with females and then juveniles following soon afterwards. "There's this kind of asynchronous cycle of migration," Witko said.
Since males play a minor role in raising their young, they often embark on the trip south sooner, usually by the first of September, followed by females a few weeks later after their children leave the nest. Then, the young hummingbirds set out on the journey alone.
"They're doing it for the first time, all on their own," said Witko. "They're just setting off using instinct. They've evolved the signals ... that tell them to go certain directions and certain places."
Hummingbirds gather near native plants, birdfeedersThe onset of migration season means hummingbirds will be out and about, and easier to spot.
"Seeing hummingbirds really comes down to finding places where there's native plants, native flowers," Witko said. "Those are always some of the best spots." The Audubon Society maintains an online database of bird-friendly plants native to different areas.
Birdfeeders also are an easy way to attract hummingbirds to the backyard. And they don't require fancy equipment – anyone can make homemade nectar by mixing one part sugar with four parts water, according to a recipe from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
There's no need to worry that birdfeeders will disrupt a hummingbird's natural pattern of searching for food or delay their journey. The birds naturally see feeders as a supplemental source of food, according to the Audubon Society.
Hummingbirds aren't skittish, offering bird enthusiasts a close-up view of their furiously beating wings. "You can often watch them fairly close, 15 or 20 feet away," Wiedenfeld said. "Sometimes, if you've got a feeder right outside your window, they'll let you get closer."
"It can be amazing to watch what they can do, hovering and flying backwards, all the acrobatics they can do. They're amazing."
Cybele Mayes-Osterman
USA TODAY Aug 13, 2024
As summer vacations wrap up and kids return to school, one small bird is preparing for a monumental journey.Hummingbird migration season gets underway in August, sending the birds flying to warm destinations thousands of miles away to last out the cold winter months and bringing birdwatchers new opportunities to catch sight of them on their trip.
Weighing as little as 2 grams, hummingbirds don't appear to be formidable creatures. But every year as autumn approaches, many birds native to the U.S. set off on a long journey south in search of warmer climates and blooming flowers.
Chillier temperatures don't necessarily bother the birds, but finding new food sources is a top priority, said Chad Witko, the National Audubon Society's senior coordinator for avian biology.
"Migration is timed with flower phenology," Witko said. "When flowers are coming to bloom, that's when birds are trying to time their migration."
Hummingbirds cross Gulf of Mexico, travel more than 3,500 milesAbout 20 of the world's 363 known hummingbird species call the U.S. home, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Most are native to the western U.S., especially Arizona and southern Texas, said David Wiedenfeld, a senior conservation scientist with American Bird Conservancy. "East of the Mississippi, we really only have one kind," the Ruby-throated hummingbird, he said.
When migration season begins, Ruby-throated hummingbirds are still abundant throughout the eastern half of the U.S., according to the Audubon Society's online bird migration explorer tool. "By early October, they are starting to show up in Central America," Wiedenfeld said, and they settle in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica for the winter.
On their journey, some birds cross the Gulf of Mexico, cruising from the coast of Texas or Louisiana to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico without stopping, according to Wiedenfeld.
The trip takes them about 18 hours, "without landing, without eating, without drinking," he said. "For these little, tiny birds, it's a tremendous crossing."
The Rufous hummingbird, the only species of hummingbird native to Alaska, is an exceptionally far traveler. Birds traveling south could end up as far as California or Mexico during migration season, according to Wiedenfeld.
In January 2010, one Rufous hummingbird was caught and marked in Tallahassee, Florida. Six months later, the bird was caught again southeast of Anchorage – a journey of more than 3,500 miles, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.Ruby-throated hummingbirds, meanwhile, can reach as far north as Ontario, Canada, during the summer, before flying to Costa Rica over the winter months.
Rufous hummingbirds also have a unique looping migration pattern, Witko said. In the spring, they travel north along the Pacific Coast, but as the end of summer approaches, "those birds don't follow the coastline back south," Witko said. "They're migrating further east from the coast," including through the Rocky Mountains.
More: Spring is hummingbird migration season: Interactive map shows where they will be
Young hummingbirds face the journey aloneBird experts say not all hummingbirds depart at the same time. Males begin the journey first, with females and then juveniles following soon afterwards. "There's this kind of asynchronous cycle of migration," Witko said.
Since males play a minor role in raising their young, they often embark on the trip south sooner, usually by the first of September, followed by females a few weeks later after their children leave the nest. Then, the young hummingbirds set out on the journey alone.
"They're doing it for the first time, all on their own," said Witko. "They're just setting off using instinct. They've evolved the signals ... that tell them to go certain directions and certain places."
Hummingbirds gather near native plants, birdfeedersThe onset of migration season means hummingbirds will be out and about, and easier to spot.
"Seeing hummingbirds really comes down to finding places where there's native plants, native flowers," Witko said. "Those are always some of the best spots." The Audubon Society maintains an online database of bird-friendly plants native to different areas.
Birdfeeders also are an easy way to attract hummingbirds to the backyard. And they don't require fancy equipment – anyone can make homemade nectar by mixing one part sugar with four parts water, according to a recipe from the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
There's no need to worry that birdfeeders will disrupt a hummingbird's natural pattern of searching for food or delay their journey. The birds naturally see feeders as a supplemental source of food, according to the Audubon Society.
Hummingbirds aren't skittish, offering bird enthusiasts a close-up view of their furiously beating wings. "You can often watch them fairly close, 15 or 20 feet away," Wiedenfeld said. "Sometimes, if you've got a feeder right outside your window, they'll let you get closer."
"It can be amazing to watch what they can do, hovering and flying backwards, all the acrobatics they can do. They're amazing."
Dear John,
This week, the Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul officially passed the 2024 – 2025 New York State Budget, which includes environmental funding and policy proposals that will help protect birds and our shared environment.
We will be working alongside our partners in conservation, the Legislature, and the Governor’s office to bring these important protections to life. Highlights include –
Environmental Protection Fund. New York State has committed $400 million in funding for the EPF, which provides critical support for environmental programs, including Audubon’s nature centers and sanctuaries. We are also pleased that the proposed language allowing funds from the EPF to be spent on staffing for state agencies was not included in the final budget proposal.
Clean Water Infrastructure. The Governor had proposed to cut funding for clean water infrastructure by fifty percent. The final budget restores full funding for a total of $500 million for this fiscal year. This proposal will help ensure that birds and people have access to clean water.
Capital for State Parks and the DEC. The final budget includes $200 million in capital funding for the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and $90 million for the Department of Environmental Conservation. Funds will support habitat improvement projects, the continued enhancement of the New York State Birding Trail, and more.
Plant 25 million Trees by 2033. The final budget includes $47 million for planting 25 million trees by 2033, which will help New York State meet its goal of planting and maintaining 1.7 million acres of new forest by 2040.
Blue Buffers Voluntary Homeowner Buyout Program. Many New Yorkers are threatened by rising sea levels, which can put homes at risk of repeat flooding and years of costly damage. The final budget includes the Blue Buffers Voluntary Homeowner Buyout Program, which will give New Yorkers the option and means to relocate to safer areas, and then allow those properties to be used as part of natural flood control strategies, such as the restoration of living shorelines and salt marshes.
RAPID Act. The Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment (RAPID) Act would authorize the Office for Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) to issue permits for electric transmission projects and create a new expedited permitting process, including the development of new regulations and uniform standards and conditions. We are committed to working with ORES to minimize the risks of transmission construction and operation to biodiversity, and to speed the deployment of needed transmission infrastructure.
This week, the Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul officially passed the 2024 – 2025 New York State Budget, which includes environmental funding and policy proposals that will help protect birds and our shared environment.
We will be working alongside our partners in conservation, the Legislature, and the Governor’s office to bring these important protections to life. Highlights include –
Environmental Protection Fund. New York State has committed $400 million in funding for the EPF, which provides critical support for environmental programs, including Audubon’s nature centers and sanctuaries. We are also pleased that the proposed language allowing funds from the EPF to be spent on staffing for state agencies was not included in the final budget proposal.
Clean Water Infrastructure. The Governor had proposed to cut funding for clean water infrastructure by fifty percent. The final budget restores full funding for a total of $500 million for this fiscal year. This proposal will help ensure that birds and people have access to clean water.
Capital for State Parks and the DEC. The final budget includes $200 million in capital funding for the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and $90 million for the Department of Environmental Conservation. Funds will support habitat improvement projects, the continued enhancement of the New York State Birding Trail, and more.
Plant 25 million Trees by 2033. The final budget includes $47 million for planting 25 million trees by 2033, which will help New York State meet its goal of planting and maintaining 1.7 million acres of new forest by 2040.
Blue Buffers Voluntary Homeowner Buyout Program. Many New Yorkers are threatened by rising sea levels, which can put homes at risk of repeat flooding and years of costly damage. The final budget includes the Blue Buffers Voluntary Homeowner Buyout Program, which will give New Yorkers the option and means to relocate to safer areas, and then allow those properties to be used as part of natural flood control strategies, such as the restoration of living shorelines and salt marshes.
RAPID Act. The Renewable Action Through Project Interconnection and Deployment (RAPID) Act would authorize the Office for Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) to issue permits for electric transmission projects and create a new expedited permitting process, including the development of new regulations and uniform standards and conditions. We are committed to working with ORES to minimize the risks of transmission construction and operation to biodiversity, and to speed the deployment of needed transmission infrastructure.
The Flowering Plant That's A Garden Must For Hummingbird Lovers
www.housedigest.com/1533136/attract-hummingbirds-pollinators-bottlebrush-plant/
www.housedigest.com/1533136/attract-hummingbirds-pollinators-bottlebrush-plant/
My Balcony Summer 2023
8-26-23
8-23-23
8=20
8=17
5.9.23
Harold's Deck photo
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Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with Audubon
You’ll be able to follow along your favorite birds’ flight path using the new Bird Migration Explorer (also available in Spanish), a state-of-the-art digital platform that visualizes the heroic journeys of more than 450 bird species found in the US and Canada.
You’ll be able to follow along your favorite birds’ flight path using the new Bird Migration Explorer (also available in Spanish), a state-of-the-art digital platform that visualizes the heroic journeys of more than 450 bird species found in the US and Canada.
Spring 2023 Hummingbird Migration Map & Sightings
Brightly-colored flowers that are tubular tend to produce the most nectar, and are particularly attractive to hummingbirds. These include perennials such as bee balms, columbines, daylilies, and lupines; biennials such as foxgloves and hollyhocks; and many annuals, including cleomes, impatiens, and petunias.
Plants that Attract Hummingbirds | The Old Farmer's Almanac
Plants that Attract Hummingbirds | The Old Farmer's Almanac
2022
Welcome to Hummingbird Central
LIFE SPAN 6 to 12 years
YOUNG Number of eggs laid: Usually 2; sometimes 1
Size of egg: .3 x .43 inches (8 x 11 millimeters) to .5 x .8 inches (12 x 20 millimeters)
Incubation period: 14 to 23 days
Age of maturity: 2 months to 1 year
SIZE Largest - giant hummingbird Patagona gigas, 8.6 inches (22 centimeters);
smallest - bee hummingbird Mellisuga helenae, 2 inches (5 centimeters)
Weight: .06 to .8 ounces (1.6 to 23 grams)
YOUNG Number of eggs laid: Usually 2; sometimes 1
Size of egg: .3 x .43 inches (8 x 11 millimeters) to .5 x .8 inches (12 x 20 millimeters)
Incubation period: 14 to 23 days
Age of maturity: 2 months to 1 year
SIZE Largest - giant hummingbird Patagona gigas, 8.6 inches (22 centimeters);
smallest - bee hummingbird Mellisuga helenae, 2 inches (5 centimeters)
Weight: .06 to .8 ounces (1.6 to 23 grams)
3rd Floor Balcony
Tischler Hummingbird Santuary
Located in Milstone NJ in Monmouth County
