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News Flash: First Hummingbirds are Here Journey North Hummingbird Migration Updates will begin next month, according to this schedule: THURSDAYS: March 19, April 2, 16, 30, May 14 February 18, 1998 This unscheduled report brings the following news: "Today I had my first ruby-throated male show up at a feeder. My location is Valrico, Florida, 18 miles east of Tampa. YEAAAA!" (2/18/98) Report the FIRST hummingbird you see this spring to Journey North! This early sighting is a reminder that the hummingbird season will soon be here. For the first time this year, we will also track a western hummingbird species, the Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). This species over-winters primarily in Mexico, and two early sightings have already been reported in California. (See data below.) The Rufous Hummingbird breeds the farthest north of any hummingbird, with some traveling all the way to Alaska. Watch for this hummingbird if you live in northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, western Montana, Alberta, British Columbia or southeast Alaska. Watch for the Ruby-throated Hummingbird if you live in the U.S. or Canada east of the Mississippi River. Wintering and Breeding Range of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Map by D. Bojar and U. McKinney Macalester College Preparing for the Hummingbird Migration While you wait for hummingbird migration updates over the next few weeks, here are some things you can do to prepare: Unpave the Way for Hummingbirds Get ready for hungry hummingbirds! In addition to tracking their migration this spring, we hope you'll help hummingbirds along the way by creating habitat for them. Many helpful people and resources can be accessed through this WWW site. When your habitat project is complete, report back to Journey North. We'll add your site our "Unpave the Way for Wildlife" map, showing where you've helped make life better for the wildlife that shares your home. Link to Unpave the Way for Wildlife Project Where to Purchase a Hummingbird Feeder Order Your Tracking Map To Order From Latitudes Map Store Rufous Hummingbirds (Western U.S. and Canada) Region Needed: North America Size: 30x23 or 60x47 Map #'s: 20014 or 20035 Price: $10.00 or $20.00 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Eastern U.S. and Canada) Region Needed: USA* Recommended Map: Rand McNally United States Cosmopolitan) Size: 52x34 Price: $3.95 *Because the ruby-throated hummingbird doesn't go far into Canada, a U.S. map will provide the best detail of the ruby-throated hummingbird's range. Today's Migration Data Rufous Hummingbirds (Western U.S. and Canada) 01/31/98 Weimar, CA 02/13/98 Bakersfield, CA Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Eastern U.S. and Canada) 02/18/98 Valrico, FL Special thanks to Lanny Chambers for contributing migration data again this spring. Be sure to visit his WWW site, "Hummingbirds". The Next Hummingbird Migration Update Will be Posted on March 19, 1998