What
happens to the sunlight in North America in the spring?
Sunlight changes daily between the first day of spring (equinox) and first
day of summer (solstice). Every day, the sun's most direct (strongest)
rays hit farther north.* And every day, the sun rises earlier and sets
later. This means more hours of sunlight.
Think:
- How
does this seasonal change — a greater amount of stronger sunlight
— affect a hummingbird's
habitat?
(First think about changes in the nonliving environment, such as the air, water, and soil.)
- How do these changes help a hummingbird make its journey north? (Think about what hummingbirds need to survive.)
* The sun's most direct rays actually begin hitting further north after
the winter solstice. That's also when days begin to get longer.
After the equinox, this happens much more quickly.