In the News - May 2009
Hummingbird migration flits through Arkansas
SEARCY, Ark. - The first hummingbirds of the season are passing through the
Natural State, so enjoy them while they last, says Randy Feagin, White County
Master Gardener.
Master Gardeners is an extension program of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
Of the 340 known species of hummingbirds, only 21 reach the United States.
Until recently, the only one to nest in Arkansas was the ruby-throated
hummingbird, says Feagin. Last year, rufous hummingbirds were seen in some
southern counties.
"The vanguard of the ruby-throated hummer migration has started, and so we
are seeing a few males passing through on their way to the northern states and
southern Canada," says Feagin. Males are easily identified by their gorgets—bright
and iridescent feathers on their heads. Females are green with gray backs and
breasts.
These "beautiful flying jewels," he says, are heading north from their
wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. Powerful wing muscles and fat
reserves allow hummingbirds to make this migration several times over their
five- to six-year lifespan.
The normal flight speed of hummingbirds is 25-30 miles per hour with about 80
wing beats per second, but can increase to 200 beats per hour in dives that can
reach 65 miles per hour, says Feagin.
In other words, they can get here in a hurry.
Get those hummingbird feeders out now – once the days get longer,
hummingbirds will start establishing territories for their breeding season. Keep
your feeders full through the fall to bring in hummingbirds on a regular basis,
says Feagin.
"After most of their kind have started their return migration south, juvenile
birds may still arrive seeking nectar," he says. "By keeping your feeders full,
you serve as a way-station on their way." Hummingbirds migrate by the length of
day, not the amount of available food, so this pit-stop will not hinder their
migration at all, he says.
For more information on hummingbirds and their migration, contact your county
Extension office or visit www.uaex.edu. The Cooperative
Extension Service is a part of the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture.
May 8, 2009
Media Contact: Elizabeth Fortune
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2120
efortune@uaex.edu
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