Journey South Hummingbird Migration Update: October 15, 2010

Hummingbirds

Migration Update: October 15, 2010

Please Report
Your Sightings!

Week #9: Still Seeing Hummingbirds?
He's home! At least one hummingbird arrived on his wintering grounds in Costa Rica last week. Meanwhile, hummingbirds continued to drain from their breeding grounds. The week's 277 sightings were half of the 500 reported the week before, and half of the 1,000 reported the week before that. What's happening in your hometown?

Do not report if your hummingbirds are gone!

Report if hummingbirds are still present or
Report the date you saw your last hummingbird.

Image of the Week

This male ruby-throated hummingbird had arrived in Costa Rica as of October 12, 2010.

Image: Patricia Nethercote

He's home!

Highlights from the Migration Trail

Home on the Wintering Grounds in Costa Rica
A male ruby-throated hummingbird has reached his winter home in Costa Rica! Patricia Nethercote announced the news from her backyard in the Guanacaste region. The male arrived on October 12th, and she sent a snapshot to prove it.

"The Rubythroats generally arrive at the end of October and stay until the beginning of March," says Patricia.

How Far? Find the sighting on the migration map. How far do you suppose this hummingbird flew?

Compare Landmass: Look at the range map and compare the size of the breeding grounds and wintering grounds of the two hummingbird species. The hummingbirds have funneled into a relatively small region for the winter. This is why conservation of winter habitat is especially important.

Sample Migration Highlights
Here are some observations we gleaned from reading recent reports. Where was...

The northernmost hummingbird report?

Anchorage, Alaska: October 10
"We have never seen a hummingbird here. Just appeared on our balcony."

The feeder with the highest hummer count?

San Diego, California: October 9
"Still plenty of Anna's hummingbirds here. We have four feeders around the yard and the hummers consume a gallon of food a day. We are down to around 50 hummers total."

The person with the latest-ever hummingbird record?

Cincinnati, Ohio: October 9
"I'm still seeing migrant after migrant! Mostly all juvenile males! I'm amazed! Last year September 9th was my last sighting!!!"

What factors do you think could cause such a comparatively late sighting this year?

Migration Map

Animation | Live Map

Compare Landmass

Range map: Ruby-throated and Rufous Hummingbirds

Did you know?
Of the 660 bird species that breed in the U.S. and Canada, 350 migrate south of the U.S. border for the winter.

This is one reason why conservation of habitat on the wintering grounds is so important.

Next week's "Have You Seen a Hummingbird?" reminder will be posted on October 22nd.