Hummingbird Update: May 1, 2013
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Your Sightings!
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Hummingbirds continue migrating towards their breeding grounds, where nest building will begin.

This Update Includes:

Image of the Week
male and female at feeder
Photo: Debra Hopkins
Females Arrive
News: Migration Ramped Up
What's Happening Now
Hummingbird sightings ramped up this week as temperatures warmed across the continent.

Rufous News
Rufous arrived in the Mission Valley this week with sightings in Kalispell, Whitefish, and Missoula.

  • From British Columbia, "Rufous were late by a couple of days due to snow and cold. By April 27 we had both males and females here." 04/25/13
  • From Juneau, Alaska, "Female rufous at the backend of Mendenhall Valley." 04/26/13

Ruby-throat News
Rubies reported this week along the Atlantic coast and moving into the northern plains.

  • From an excited observer in Oakdale, "Male just showed up 3 minutes ago! Like clockwork for the last few years." 04/28/13 Connecticut
  • Karen spotted her first, "Not only did we see our first Ruby-throated hummingbird at our feeder, our bats emerged, too!" 04/27/13 Bow, New Hampshire

What's Happening Next
When temperatures warm, watch for rufous to move north from the Alaskan Panhandle into the Southcentral region of the state. When they reach their breeding grounds, nest building will begin.

lots of rufous!
Photo: Barry Williams
Wow, What a Sight
 
male and female at feeder
Photo: Patricia Nowlin
Male and Female
 
hummers are small
Photo: Robert Zickus
So Tiny

Explore: Nest Building
Kick off research about hummingbird nests by examining images in this photo gallery. Use the journal page to capture Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? questions about nesting.

Wings of Life Educator's Guide
Maps: Migration Status
Migration continued this week while southern states are starting to see their hummers settle in for some courtship to start the next generation. In this week's journal, begin research of the intricacies of nest building.
ruby map rufous map other hummers map
Ruby-throated
(map | animation | sightings)
Rufous
(map | animation | sightings)
Other
(map | animation | sightings)
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Next Update May 8, 2013.