Just Passing Through
Rufous Hummingbirds travel over 2,500 miles from Alaska and Canada to Mexico for winter. One stopped for a sip in Washington this week:

"I saw this female Rufous in my backyard yesterday morning. I spent several hours waiting for this shot, knowing she may be gone tomorrow. They only spend a day resting before moving on. Fly safely my little friend!" says photographer Jack Moskovita.

Peak Migration
The past two weeks have generated peak reports from Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and especially Texas. What do three dozen hummers look like? See this video from Zwole, Louisiana.

"It's like an Alfred Hitchcock movie! It is simply incredible. And I can get right up to them.  I can stand so close that I literally can feel the wind generated by their wings! Each feeder is literally swarming with hummers! I am going through a gallon (!) of nectar per day. I've never seen anything like this."

Texas Drought
Gripped by severe drought, Texans are concerned about the lack of adequate hummingbird habitat. (See drought map.) People can't possibly provide all that nature could, but feeders are helping:

Students in Friendswood, Texas, have a hummingbird feeder in their butterfly garden "During recess we observed 3 hummingbirds at our feeder."

"I'll keep the feeders out as long as my little friends are around for sure!! Very short on the supply of blooming habitat with the severe drought conditions in Texas," reports West Tawakoni, Texas.

"Native nectar sources are almost non-existent, so the birds are dependent on the 15 feeders located around the house at the ranch," notes Carol Cullar of Rio Brave Nature Center.

Orioles Crossing Texas Too
Baltimore Orioles are also crossing Texas on their way to their winter home in Central America. Harlen Aschen reports from the Texas Gulf coast:

"There are no nectar flowers, no nothing, with drought, so everyone is trying to help as much as possible. There was a big fight in the back yard between Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and Baltimore Orioles today. Both want the same feeders and the orioles win that battle every time!

The orioles aren't shy about it, they drop out of the sky and take over. Reports from all over the state are coming in. One said they had 30 to 40 Baltimore Orioles at one time earlier this week. We are all putting out more feeders, keeping them full and fresh, and putting out fresh oranges."