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Read for details: Read these descriptions from observers. How do you think hummingbirds that spend the winter in the United States survive?

January 14: New Orleans, LA
(29.96 N, -90.08 W)
A ruby-throated hummer visited the yard every day for the past week. Lots of flowers are in bloom for the bird to visit. (New Orleans is subtropical.) >>

January 21: Cape Carteret, NC
(34.71 N, -77.13 W)
I have two rufous hummers (first sightings of the season began around Oct.) We had an unusual snowfall of 2 inches here at the coast of North Carolina yesterday. I put out my feeders at just before dawn, and by 7:00, my main little guy was up and feeding. That one is standing guard of both my feeders this morning in his favorite spot, a crape myrtle outside my kitchen sitting area. He usually doesn't mind too much if the other bird feeds on the feeder in my yard area, but this morning he is being very protective of both that one and his favorite one on my kitchen window. >>

• Reports from Other Observers: You can find all observations reported this week in the sightings database and on the on the rufous and rubythroat migration maps.

For Your Journal: Each week, choose your favorite hummingbird sighting and record your thoughts in your journal. >>

Winter Returnee Thibodaux, LA (29.81 N, -90.74 W) Banders discovered a leg band on this rufous hummingbird. So they knew that he'd spent the winter there before!