Autumn is hurricane season in the Gulf! Even normal headwinds can be a hazard for birds that don't have enough fat. Ones that risk the 500-mile, 20-hour trip rely on the layers of fat they built up before and during migration. Most have just enough energy to make the long trip.

Imagine a skinny, exhausted hummer landing, but not finding nectar right away. People who live in regions where these birds migrate can help by conserving wildflowers, gardening, and filling up feeders! What about you?

Researchers think that in the fall, fewer rubythroats make the risky trip
over the stormy Gulf of Mexico than in the spring.

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