As summer ends and autumn nears, hummingbirds respond to seasonal changes: shorter daylight, cooler temperatures, and fall blooms. They instinctively know when to leave their breeding grounds. Fewer hours of daylight trigger hormonal changes that cause the urge to fuel up and fly south even though nectar-rich flowers are still in bloom and sugar-water feeders are full. What behaviors will you see this fall?

Report your observations as hummingbirds migrate from your backyard to their wintering grounds.

Hummingbirds are BIG eaters. While on migration they need a steady supply of food to fuel their flight. Finding nectar sources can mean the difference between life and death. This gallery of images, shared by Journey North observers, offers a few ideas for planting nectar-rich flowers that attract hummingbirds in late summer and fall.

When spring arrives, monarchs that spent the winter in Mexico have been alive for 6-8 months. Their wings have changed dramatically. What do wings look like as they get older and what causes the changes?

Monarch Wings Over Time

By April, the overwintering monarchs have only a few weeks to live. Their wings have changed dramatically.  Images in this photo gallery show what happens and why.