Hummingbirds Highlights from the Migration Trail What Can You Learn from Observers? (Back to Today's Update - May 8, 2008) Who is this stranger drinking from the hummingbird feeder? Click to enlarge. Then read on! Photo: © Jean English What can you learn about migrations from other observers? Read these reports, then discuss the question at the end. East Tawas, Michigan (IRESA School, 2nd grade): Two or more JUST arrived 8:25 p.m. at the feeder, which has been in same location for past nine years. They have arrived on May 2 or 3 every year. The first Oriole arrived just hours earlier! Belleville, Michigan: My daughter spotted our first male hummingbird today. Aahhh, spring is officially here! I'm also excited to report that we also have a male Baltimore oriole hanging around and using the hummer feeders! Fulton, Michigan: It was exciting enough to have the first oriole here this morning. But then at 5 p.m. we had our first rubythroat. Rochester, Minnesota: The orioles and rose-breasted grosbeaks arrived yesterday and today I saw the first male hummingbird of the season. Middleboro, Massachusetts: One lone hummingbird drinking nectar out of my oriole feeder! Think: What do you think ruby-throated hummingbirds and Baltimore orioles have in common? Dig Deeper: Once you've answered, look at these facts about hummingbirds and orioles. What more would you add to your answer? Why do you think they arrive up north about the same time? Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Baltimore Orioles Enlarge: The red shows the ruby-throated hummingbird's breeding range. (The green shows its winter range.) Enlarge: The gold shows the Baltimore oriole's breeding range. (The red shows its winter range.) What They Eat (Diet) Insects, flower nectar Insects, flower nectar, small fruits Where They Live (Habitat) Wooded areas, suburban parks and gardens, near streams Wooded areas, suburban areas with shade trees, near streams Migration Notes Cross the Gulf of Mexico on journey north from Central America. Cross the Gulf of Mexico on journey north from Central America. Take 8-10 weeks to migrate north. Take 2-3 weeks to migrate north. They make a big push once leaves come out. Can eat many types of tiny flying insects and sap from sapsucker holes. So even in unpredictable weather on their long migration, they can find food. Require much larger insects, like caterpillars. These don't hatch until leaves come out. So orioles wait until then, and then make a fast final push north. Rubythroats arrive in northern breeding grounds about the same time as orioles: When food sources are available there. Orioles arrive in northern breeding grounds about the same time as rubythroats: When food sources are available there. Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.