Get Ready

Track migration as hummingbirds travel to their breeding grounds.

Fueling Up
August 23

Hummingbirds double their weight
as they prepare to fly hundreds or even thousands of miles.

Males Migrating First
August 30

With males leaving first — and females and juveniles left behind — there's less competition for food.

Nectar and Migration
September 6

Hummingbirds and monarchs feed on high-energy nectar to fuel migration. Why do they both migrate so early in the fall?

Pushing Southward
September 13

By mid-September, hummingbirds are likely migrants on the move, not summer residents.

Arriving in Mexico
September 20

"This is the first ruby of the season," reported Arnulfo Moreno from the northeastern state of Tamaulipas.

Passing Through
September 28

The push south continues in earnest as days become shorter, temps fall, and blooms fade.

Going, going...
October 5

Migration is winding down. As number of sightings decreases, be on the lookout for stragglers.

Winding Down
October 12

Migration is tapering off, but Hurricane Matthew reminded us of one of the perils of fall migration.

They've Arrived!
October 19

The first rubythroats have arrived at our observation post on the wintering grounds in Costa Rica.

Gone South!
October 26

Keep watching and reporting.
Tracking continues during the winter.

Archives: Spring 2016