Hummingbirds
Hummingbird Migration Update: May 14, 2009

Today's Report Includes:

Please Report
Your Sightings! >>

Slideshow: What's so special about this rufous? Sweet Pea's Long Journey! >>
The Migration: Highlights, Maps, and Questions

Distribution Map

Rufous
Hummingbird

This Week's Map >>
Week-by-Week Animation >>
Sightings >>

Ruby-throated
Hummingbird

This Week's Map >>
Week-by-Week Animation >>
Sightings >>

Handout: Today's Hummingbird Map Questions >>

Highlights: Go Westward Dear Rubies!
"It was 34 degrees out this morning when my first hummer appeared," says a Wisconsin observer. "He was trying to get into the bottle rather than feeding at one of the ports." This week, our northern observers spotted a steady stream of rubythroat antics in backyards and schoolyards. And the migration has a new twist. The maps show that at least some of these territory-seeking migrants are heading west across Canada despite colder-than-normal temperatures. (Four new provinces this week!) Can you find the island province where rubythroats have been spotted?

As rubythroats continue to head west, do you think they'll bump into any rufous hummers? Decide what you think after digging into today's maps and map questions.

Some late rufous reports came in from Alaska last week, along with two from a new Canadian province. But the big rufous news is about a banded bird named Sweet Pea. Discover her story in this week's slideshow.

  • Sweet Pea's Long Journey: Bander Recaptures Special Rufous! >>

Then come back next week to explore how fledged young hummers survive the summer and prepare for an amazing journey south. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled and report the first hummingbird you spot!

  • This Week's Observations from Citizen Scientists >>
Journal: Why Do We Welcome Them?

Our observers are clearly delighted when migrating hummingbirds return:

"Yay, I'm always thrilled to see them again." "Now the world is allright again!" "We're so happy to have our friends back." "Each year I am as excited as I was the first time I saw one." "So good to finally see our flying jewel."

If you have seen any hummers, what words describe how you felt? Why do you think people feel so good about spotting the first hummingbirds of the season? Describe another seasonal observation that excites you. Why do you think you feel that way?

  • Respond in your Hummingbird Journal. >>

Just for Fun: What's up with this rufous? It's staring at its reflection in a glass ball! What do you think he's thinking? (Click to enlarge.)
Photo: ©Alandra Palisser
Project: Now You're the Experts!

During the last few months, you've shared and heard a lot about these tiny, feisty, fearless fliers called hummingbirds. Now's the time to make a creation to show what you've learned about hummers and their migration. Consider these formats: A poster, wall-size timeline, podcast, slideshow, or booklet.

Draw from your Hummingbird Journals and from news updates, maps, prediction charts, slideshows, and other materials. Bring them to life with your own drawings. We'd love to see photos of your work!

Review your hummingbird journals as you plan a final creation!

Teachers: The migration is wrapping up in the next few weeks!

What Have We Learned?
Hummingbird Migration Assessment Tools >>
Year-end Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts! >>
Will you take a few minutes to complete our Year-end Evaluation? (We'll still send hummer reports through May.)

With your help, we can we document Journey North's reach, impact, and value. We need comments like yours to keep the program going and growing. Thank you! >>

 

Year-end Evaluation >>
This Week's Hummingbird Resources
  • Slideshow: Sweet Pea's Long Journey: Bander Recaptures Special Rufous! >>
  • Reading/Slideshow: 22 Days in a Hummingbird Nest >>
  • Photo Study: Singin' in the Rain? >>
  • Spotlight: Nancy Newfield: Hummingbird Bander >>
  • Lesson: Preening: Keeping Flight Gear in Tip-Top Shape >>
  • Hummingbird Arrivals: Rubythroat Chart and Rufous Chart
  • Celebrate! International Migratory Bird Day >>
  • Assessment Tools: What Have We Learned About Hummingbirds? >>
  • Tips: How to Help Hummingbirds and Their Habitat >>
  • Video Clip: One Minute with a Hummingbird >>
More Hummingbird Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Hummingbird Migration Update Will Be Posted on May 21, 2009.

© 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.