Hummingbirds
Migration Update: March 14, 2012
Please Report
Your Sightings!		 Report Your Sightings
How do these tiny birds fuel up for the migration ahead? Use activities and resources to explore how the amazing hummingbird finds the food it needs. Ruby-throated hummingbirds have already been sighted in 6 states. When and where will they move next? Ask the Expert open until March 23.

Today's Report Includes:

 Image of the Week
ruby female nectaring on flowers
Photo: Joan Garvey
Fueling Up!
News: Highlights
A hummingbird isn't always easy to capture with a camera. When one of our reporters wrote that it took her 85 pictures to get "the" one of her first rubythroat sighting we had to share.

March 11, Yacolt, Washington
"Male Rufous sighted this afternoon. A few minutes later saw him at my window feeder. He didn't act like he knew where to look for feeders from last year. So possibly a new visitor."

March 8, Aberdeen, Washington
A beautiful brilliant male visited one of the feeders late this afternoon! The Annas are still here, as well, so I hope they get along. Welcome back Mr. Rufous! Aberdeen, WA 03/08/12
rufous
Photo: Mary Rush
"It took 85 pictures to get this one. Yay for spring hummers!" wrote Mary Rush from Wimberly, Texas
* Remember, clear nectar will attract hummers.
Slideshow: Fueling the Migration
Hummingbirds use a lot of energy. Their wings can flap 200 times a second! Listen. They burn energy so fast that they need to eat 1.5 to 3 times their weight in food each day.

Use the activities and resources in this guide to explore how hummingbirds find the food they need.

 slide show
Slideshow
Predict: Ruby-throat Migration Pattern
First sightings of hummingbirds have been reported in 6 states already this season. Can you name them? Look for the beginning of a pattern, then predict where the hummers will be spotted next. We've started the list, print and add your predictions and arrival dates.

migration chart
Predictions Handout
Latest Maps
The weather forecast looks great for rubythroat migration mid-week. Southern winds and mostly mild weather along the Gulf coast are ideal for moving the birds northward. Rufous should be holding tight with the wind, rain, and snow in western Washington and northern Oregon this week. Keep your eyes on the map and your feeders filled for hungry hummers!
ruby map ruby map ruby map
Ruby-throated
(map | animation | sightings)
 Rufous
(map | animation | sightings)		 Other
(map | animation | sightings)
Ask the Hummingbird Expert
Ask the Expert
Special thanks to Lanny Chambers for sharing his time and expertise again this year to answer your questions! Beginning on Friday, March 9, you will have two weeks to prepare and submit your questions to Lanny.

Ask the Expert Will be Open
March 9 - March 23, 2012.

 Lanny Chambers
Meet Expert Lanny Chambers
The next monarch migration update will be posted on February 21, 2012.

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