Flight Risks
A hummer flaps its wings 75 times per second during flight. It can fly about 25 miles an hour — and even faster with tailwinds. Imagine the risks a tiny bird could encounter on its 500 mile trip across the Gulf of Mexico. What if strong headwinds slow it down and make the flight take longer than 18-22 hours? What if fat reserves deplete before the tiny hummingbird reaches land?
![Journey North: Hummingbird Migration](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/journeynorth.org/images/graphics/humm/RubySalvia_Anim_RussThompson.gif)
Russ Thompson
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