Hummingbirds’ Migration Marathon
Could you finish a marathon race? How about 38 of them, a distance just under 1,000 miles?
Well, as crazy as it sounds, that’s what some hummingbirds are doing right now.
The next couple of months are your best opportunity to see hummingbirds. Adult hummingbirds are now joined by a horde of juveniles as they head south to Central America and their winter territories, some traveling thousands of miles.
It’s estimated that more than seven million Ruby-throated Hummingbirds return to the tropics each winter, along with six million Rufous, three million Broad-tailed, and millions of other individuals of various hummingbird species.
En route to their destination, hummingbirds will take part in an eating binge that is unmatched at any other time of the year. A high-calorie diet is important to build fat reserves for their migratory trip. So be sure to have your hummingbird feeders filled with a nectar solution.
How Cool is That! - Hummingbirds