Ruby Throat Hummingbird Migration Map

[kadee79]

I thought some of you might enjoy watching the progress of the ruby throat hummingbirds as they move north.

If you look closely at the map down in SW Ga. and the date 3/9...that was the first sighting here that I reported. This is the second year in a row that I have managed to get my date on the map.  If you are a hummer feeder person, it will also let you know when you need to get your feeders out there for them.  They are moving a bit faster now than they were!

www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

[Tennesseer]

These little machines amaze me, especially their 500 mile, non-stop, 20 hour migration flight across the Gulf of Mexico to/from Mexico and Central America.  Some though migrate hugging the coast instead of flying over the open water.

[Tennesseer]

The map is interesting.  The first sightings/landings are pretty much on the coasts along the G of M.  Sightings are then reported several days later slightly inland.  That backs up the long term observation the birds are/were exhausted after flying across the gulf and required several days of rest-and-relaxation/food after their crossing.  

[Blonde Granny]

They arrive in NW Arkansas around April 15. I have noticed over the past few years we are seeing fewer and fewer of them.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Very cool.

We're in central California and our "busy season" for our hummingbird feeder is fall and winter, actually. (In the spring and summer, our year-round hummingbirds (different species) seem to find plenty to eat ... but in the fall and winter we have to refill our feeder every 2 days and it's great fun to watch them swoop in and chase others off!)

We're also the winter destination for goldfinches, who've been eating my other bird feeders out of house and home for a few months. They're now bright yellow and most will leave soon, leaving our year-round resident (non-gold) finchies to keep me company

[Tiny]

This would explain why my neighbor put out the Humming Bird Feeder this weekend. I thought it was odd as I thought they were a 'late summer' occurance.

Since it appears my neighbor is not crazy (hummingbirds in spring!?!?) I may put out the feeder I purchased this weekend.

Thanks for posting this!

[Tennesseer]

In the spring and early summer, ruby throated hummingbirds are mostly concerned with nest building and breeding.  Instead of nectar from flowers and hummingbird feeders (for energy), the birds rely on spiders (60-80% of their diet) and other very small insects.  Spiders and other insects offer vitamins, minerals, fiber, acids, and protein, which they cannot get from nectar.  The adults feed their young hummers a diet of spiders/insects while the young are in the nest.  Nectar is for immediate energy only.  Hummingbird nests are also bound together by spider web silk.   

So if you do not see a lot of hummingbirds around in the spring and early summer, it does not mean there are no hummingbirds in your area.  It just means they are eating a different type of food during that period.  They will start visiting your hummingbird feeders later in in the summer and when it is time to begin their southern migration to central America.  They need all the energy they can get for that long flight.

[Deleted]

I hope they take a lot of long rests.

I'm anxious to see them but the robins can barely get a worm out of the still frozen ground here.

[kadee79]

Mar 31, 2014 16:38:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

In the spring and early summer, ruby throated hummingbirds are mostly concerned with nest building and breeding.  Instead of nectar from flowers and hummingbird feeders (for energy), the birds rely on spiders (60-80% of their diet) and other very small insects.  Spiders and other insects offer vitamins, minerals, fiber, acids, and protein, which they cannot get from nectar.  The adults feed their young hummers a diet of spiders/insects while the young are in the nest.  Nectar is for immediate energy only.  Hummingbird nests are also bound together by spider web silk.   

So if you do not see a lot of hummingbirds around in the spring and early summer, it does not mean there are no hummingbirds in your area.  It just means they are eating a different type of food during that period.  They will start visiting your hummingbird feeders later in in the summer and when it is time to begin their southern migration to central America.  They need all the energy they can get for that long flight.

The ruby throats that I get do feed at the flowers and at my feeders....off/on all day, every day and even in the rain. If mama is feeding little ones, she needs energy to find the goodies to feed them so comes to the feeders. They all suck up feeder "juice" (sugar water - 4 parts water-1 part sugar) every night just before dark.  The 4-1 ratio is for optimal viewing, it requires them to feed about every 15 min.  Making the mixture stronger only makes them feed for a shorter time and less often.

The male ruby throats arrive first, about 2 weeks ahead of the females.  They find a good food source and establish their territory and then try to entice a female to stop there.  The male breeds the female and that is ALL he does.  He does NOT do any nest building or feeding of the babies.  He just guards HIS territory, even from his female and the babies when they fly.  Which when the babies fly (fledge) they never return to the nest...they are 100% on their own!

Hummingbirds drink with their tongue by rapidly lapping nectar. While it had been believed that capillary action was what drew nectar onto the tongue, high-speed photography has revealed that a hummingbird's tongue’s tubes open down their sides, and close around nectar, trapping it.[5] Hummingbirds do not spend all day flying, as the energy cost would be prohibitive; the majority of their activity consists simply of sitting or perching. Hummingbirds eat many small meals and consume approximately half their weight in pure sugar (or twice their weight, if drinking nectar that is 25% sugar) each day.[6] Hummingbirds digest their food rapidly due to their small size and high metabolism; a mean retention time (MRT) of less than an hour has been reported.[7] Hummingbirds spend an average of 10–15% of their time feeding and 75–80% sitting and digesting.

Because they starve so easily, hummingbirds are highly attuned to food sources. Some species, including many found in North America, are territorial and will try to guard food sources (such as a feeder) against other hummingbirds, attempting to ensure a future food supply for itself.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird

The hummers DO need the flowers and/or feeders to keep up their energy for bug collection, flying and nest building (females).

It is also said that you will only see about 1/3 of the hummer population in your area at any one time.  Not sure that is true on some days...other days, yes.

Blonde Granny, the reason you aren't seeing as many is that more & more people are NOT planting the flowers they like...things with a trumpet like honeysuckle & trumpet vine.  Also, there are fewer & fewer wild flowers as our farmers use more & more chemicals that destroy the wild/weed flowers.

They love zinnias too....and so do the bees & butterflies!

I plant for them.  And that is why I have them returning to my yard year after year!  I have 5 red honeysuckles and one gold one plus there are Asian honeysuckle (considered wild to most people) in our woods.  Right now I also have wisteria, lady banks roses (small grouped blooms), azaleas, spirea and some type of blue bells all blooming.  Zinnias & poppies are growing and larkspur will be blooming shortly as will black eyed susans and then the cone flowers.  The knockout roses are starting to bloom and Rose of Sharon & crape myrtles will bloom later.  I have LOTS of other blooming things too...that bloom all summer & into the late fall.