Hummingbirds
Migration Update: February 24, 2010
Please Report
Your Sightings!

Sighters in the western states are seeing the first scattered rufous sightings, but we are still waiting for the first reports of ruby-throated hummingbirds. Keep your eye on the map for sightings along the Gulf Coast. How can weather maps help predict when they will cross the Gulf? Here's one example of a map that might help. Learn about the geography of the migration as you make your own map to use this season.

Today's Report Includes:
Image of the Week

Migrating hummers often rely on good weather conditions. Explore
Highlights, Maps, and Questions

Highlights: First New Rufous—Waiting for Ruby Throats
Western states are now reporting some scattered rufous hummingbird sightings. Is your feeder filled? Prepared bird lovers with nectar-filled feeders are seeing the very beginning of the rufous migration. Be ready for more action—any day the ruby-throated hummers will appear along the Gulf Coast. To get an accurate picture of hummingbird migrations we rely on citizen scientists like you to report your first sightings this spring.

Portland, Oregon. 02/15/10
(45.5 N, -122.69 W)
First tiny and gorgeous little female rufous hummingbird at the feeder in the front yard, next to the Ribes sanguineum. The red-flowering currant opened its first blooms two days ago, which always tells me it's time to start looking for the rufous hummers!

Red-flowering current
Credit: Mark Robinson

Distribution Map

Rufous
Hummingbird

This Week's Map
Sightings

Ruby-throated
Hummingbird

This Week's Map
Sightings

Today's Hummingbird Map Questions (click-and-print handout)

Explore: Getting Ready for the Hummingbird Migration

Very soon our migrating hummingbirds will arrive on the Gulf Coast of North America. In Central America, Ruby-throats begin their northward movement as early as January. By the end of February they are at the northern coast of Yucatan and getting ready to make the journey across the Gulf of Mexico.

Try This!
Learn the geography of the migration! Take a blank map and create your own hummingbird map. Using the distribution map as your guide, decide where on your map ruby throats and rufous hummingbirds winter and breed depending on the season. Create your own map key. Save your maps and add interesting details to them throughout this season's migration.


Start with a blank map


Instructions
Report Your Sightings: Seeing Winter Hummingbirds?

All hummingbirds do not go to Central America in the winter. Please help us document where hummingbirds are located this winter! If you'd like to report observations of additional hummingbird species besides rufous and ruby throated, please report as Signs of Spring.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
(map/sightings)

Rufous
Hummingbirds
(map/sightings)
Getting Started: This Week's Hummingbird Resources

Get to know hummingbirds by exploring these lessons and resources:
More Hummingbird Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Hummingbird Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 3, 2010.

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