Hummingbird Migration Update: February 8, 2007

Today's Report Includes:

Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

Photo: Ed Robertson
The Migration: Highlights, Maps, and Questions
Highlights: Amazing Hummers!
Hummingbirds fly backward and forward and eat half their weight in food every day! Most of these tiny wonders are still on their winter grounds south of the U.S. border. Soon they will head north to raise young. Many will arrive at the same location as they did last spring — after flying hundreds, or thousands, of miles alone! When will they get to your schoolyard? How can we help them survive? We're glad you will help track their amazing journey!

Distribution Map

Rufous
Hummingbird

This Week's Map >>
Data (for your own maps) >>

Ruby-throated
Hummingbird

This Week's Map >>
Data (for your own maps) >>

Today's Hummingbird Map Questions (click-and-print handout) >>
Journal Question
Explore: Why Come Back North? >>
  • Why do you think hummingbirds leave their winter grounds to make the long hard journey north each spring?

Write down your ideas in your Hummingbird Journal >>

Did You Know . . . ?

More Cool Hummingbird Facts >>

Questions asked by students, answered by experts
  • If you put ten hummingbirds in an envelope, you could mail it with just one stamp!
  • Hummingbirds beat their wings 60 to 80 times each second. (Imagine how much food energy they need!)
This Week's Hummingbird Resources
  • Teachers: Getting Started with the Hummingbird Migration >>
  • Tips: How to Use Journey North's Live Maps >>
  • Lesson: Two Species: Which is Which? >>
  • Lesson: Getting Ready for Hummingbird Migration (map activity) >>
  • Questions: Making Sense of Journey North Maps >>
  • Hummingbird Migration Journals (click-and-print) >>
  • Hummingbirds for Kids (booklets, photos, videos) >>
More Hummingbird Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Hummingbird Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 22, 2007.