Hummingbird Migration Update Spring 2012

Hummingbirds

Migration Update: April 18, 2012

Please Report
Your Sightings!

Hummingbirds are steadily advancing along their migratory pathways, and you can see the patterns on the maps. Weekend storms swept through the leading edge of the rubythroat migration. Rufous hummers have made their way north to Haines, Alaska. Earth Day is Sunday. Find out how you can protect these small birds and make a difference in your hometown habitats this week.

Today's Report Includes:

News: Migration and Storms
Earth Day: Helping Hummers
Maps: Latest Maps

Image of the Week

Credit: Debra Jones

Who Am I?

News: Migration and Storms

Over the weekend big storms swept through the Midwestern states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa bringing high winds and tornadoes. Peter Connolly snapped a picture of his first rubythroat sighting just before the storm hit New Haven, Missouri.

Hummers riding strong North-Northeast winds seemed to form the leading Midwest edge of the migration this week. Study this week's map to locate the sightings that make up this edge.

Rufous hummingbirds are headed north to Alaska! Read about the excitement these birds bring as they travel along their migration pathway.

Sighting Highlights

Credit: Peter Connolly

Photo before the storm in New Haven, MO

Credit: Rachael Powless

Skinny Hummers?

Earth Day: Helping Hummers

Every year, the hummingbirds we track make amazing round-trip journeys from wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America all the way to Canada and Alaska. This Sunday, April 22 is Earth Day. It's a time to think about how you can care for the earth and its creatures.

What a perfect time to find out how you can help hummingbirds and their habitats.

Helping Hummingbirds

Latest Maps

Hummers on the Move
Storms across the middle of the continent helped blow some hummers into Missouri this week. Study the maps to see where the migration's leading edge. The northern group of rubythroats continue to withstand some colder temperatures and sightings continue as they spread west and north.

This week's journal page show some interesting maps of weather during the tornados in the Great Plains.

Journal Page


Ruby-throated (map \| animation \| sightings)	Rufous (map \| animation \| sightings)	Other (map \| animation \| sightings)

The next hummingbird migration update will be posted on April 25, 2012.