Monday, September 16, 2013

Hummingbird Migration


Ever wonder what goes into hummingbird research?  Well, it's quite the lengthy process and one that I had wanted to see for myself for a couple years now.  So with some friends, we headed out to one of the survey stations on the Ft. Lowell military base on Sunday morning to check out the studies going on during hummingbird migration.


During the months of August and September, Southern Arizona becomes a hot spot for migrating hummingbirds.  Places like Audubon, Cornell University, etc. want to know more about which types of hummers are coming through a particular area.  Several feeder stations are set up with a loose net on top.  When everyone is ready to take readings, the net is dropped and the hummingbird count begins.


Very carefully, several volunteers gently retrieve the birds from the feeder nets and bring them over to a carousel where several more people are waiting to record data.


They are placed into open netted bags and then put on the carousel.  Once that carousel is full, the volunteers stop collecting the hummingbirds from the feeders and open the net up again allowing the charm of hummingbirds to feed again.  Another volunteer constantly monitors the sugar water and changes the feeders out at a regular basis.


But back to the birds on the carousel.  They are taken one at a time where they are weighed, measured, ID'd, etc.  It's a very delicate process.  Another person records the data as the lead scientist relays the data while she measures.  As you can imagine, they cannot be bothered by outsiders while this pertinent information is collected.  Hummingbirds were also monitored for disease.  At one point, it was determined that one was sick.  The loose bag that carried the bird had to be destroyed to keep the disease from spreading to other hummers.  The bird was released back into the wild.


I found it really interesting to observe the entire process.  There wasn't a shortage of hummingbirds on this rainy day.  From my counts alone with Ebird, I documented mainly Rufous and Anna's Hummingbirds.  Black-chinned, Broad-tail, Broad-bill, 2 Magnificent's and a Violet-crowned Hummingbird were also present at the feeders on this day.  80 were documented around the feeders during the first part of the AM hours.


Once the readings have been taken, the hummingbirds are released back into the wild.  Visitors, at this point, are able to offer their open hands for launch.  Sometimes they will zip right out of your hands.  Other times, they will just gently sit for a few moments before taking off.


Youth are encouraged to participate. Children(and adults) need to keep their voices down while approaching the stations as the citizen scientists are taking the readings.  This is a great way to get kids to interact with nature and learn a thing or two about hummingbirds.  Perhaps a future birder will be born?


These hummers have a long trip ahead of them.  They're still at the midway point of their journey as they head back to Central America for the winter.  Feeders provide them the much needed food for their journey.  And studies like these help scientists around the world understand such things like population numbers and migration patterns.  Wishing all these little beauties and safe trip home.  More to come.....






24 comments:

  1. I find their tiny size amazing! This looks like a similar process to what happens with shorebird banding. I wonder if they'll ever be able to make a geo-locator small enough to go on a hummingbird to track their journey.

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  2. really sweet. hope they have good travels...

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  3. Replies
    1. Close to Tucson. They have several stations around Tucson Sarah Vista and other places :-)

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  4. That was a fascinating post Chris. I had no idea that hummingbirds group in such large numbers. I always assumed that only one or two can ever be seen at a time. They are lovely little things aren't they?`We don't get them over here, only the hummingbird moth, which isn't as nice :(

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  5. A really interesting post Chris and what a wonderful event to watch :) As you say too a great way to get children interested in the natural world.

    I've been to watch ringing of birds over here and its absolutely fascinating and great to see some species so close up. Such valuable data (as with your hummingbirds) is collected too :)

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  6. Wow, this is amazing! I wish them all safe travels. I am already looking forward to seeing them return. Great post, Chris!

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  7. That was very interesting and looks like a kool place to be around, right in the thick of things humming bird-wise. It's that catching them that I never understood before, how does one do that ? *smile*

    -

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  8. Good work they're doing there Chris..what very delightful little creatures.

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  9. what a wonderful project and opportunity for volunteer citizen scientists. That photo of the hummer sitting on the hand is very moving. I just read a review of a book you would love, Chris. It's called Birds and People by Mark Cocker.

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  10. Thanks for the recommendation Ms. Catmint:)!!! I'm needing a new book to read.

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  12. This is a great post....I never realised how small they are.

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  13. A very interesting post Chris. The photos are wonderful.

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  14. Such an exciting experience. You obviously learned a lot here. I'll bet you'll be volunteering to help in the future.

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  15. That was really cool! It must be a difficult job not to hurt the little ones taking the data. One must be very delicate. And the one that was sick, did they give it medicine? Probably just let nature take it's course. But how fun that must have been to see!

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  16. HI Chris Congrats, this is an amaxing psot about this lovely little bird. I really enjoyed the info adn photos.

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  17. How amazing to hold a hummer!!! I would have been in heaven! Lucky lucky you!

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  18. love to see the awe and wonder on the little girl's face. On mine too!

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  19. Chris, this must have been amazing to see!

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  20. I loved reading this post and seeing the photos. I even had my mom come look at it and read her the entire thing because she too loves hummingbirds.

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  21. Oh my goodness. How precious to see the hummers so close.
    I had hoped for chances to photograph hummers on our recent vacation but I think they knew more about the weather coming our way than we did and had a better place to be!

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