Latest news with #HummingbirdCentral
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hummingbird migration map: See where hummingbirds have been spotted in Wisconsin
The migration of the world's tiniest feathered fliers is in full swing. As of May 1, ruby-throated hummingbird sightings in the U.S. have been reported from Key Largo at the southern tip of Florida to as far north as Hayward, Wisconsin, according to Hummingbird Central. A variety of hummingbirds have also been spotted along the West Coast, including Anna's Hummingbirds along the California coast and Rufus Hummingbirds in the Pacific Northwest. Black chin Hummingbirds were sighted across Texas, while the Broad-tailed Hummingbird species was seen in Colorado. An interactive map Wisconsin eBird shows that the popular Ruby-throated hummingbird has been spotted in every county in the state. The map records daily sightings from amateur birders. A similar map on Hummingbird Central shows that the tiny bird, which begins its migration from its wintering grounds in Central America and Mexico, has taken up residence across the eastern half of the U.S. For many Wisconsin residents, spring hasn't arrived until the first Robin has been spotted. However, hummingbird aficionados are just dedicated. As the little birds begin making their way further north, following nectar sources such as flowers and feeders, sightings begin trickling in. According to reports on Hummingbird Central, the first sighting in Wisconsin was recorded on April 17 in Eagle River. One early birder in Kenosha spotted the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird on April 18 and noted, "Earliest ever for us. Glad I had feeders up!" A birder in Hayward County spotted a male hummingbird on April 30 and commented on the early arrival. Hummingbird sightings in Fond du Lac and Brown counties were reported on April 28, while the tiny birds were spotted at feeders along Lake Michigan from April 23 through April 30. Sightings in Stevens Point and Wausau were recorded on April 28 and April 30. Bird watchers in southeast Wisconsin reported 'on time' arrivals in Belgium Mequon, Brookfield, New Berlin and Wales. A Menomonee Falls birder reported their first sighting on the last day of April, exclaiming "So excited to finally see one!" You can follow Hummingbird Central's live map throughout the spring and summer, as well as report your own sightings here. More: Will April showers continue into May and stall fieldwork for farmers? What do forecasters say? More news: For some farm families, grieving the loss of a loved one comes with an added burden: a hefty tax bill The best way to encourage hummingbirds to your yard is to plant plenty of food resources for them. You should ideally grow a variety of nectar-producing flowers, with feeders to supplement when blooms are in short supply, according to the UW-Madison Department of Horticulture. The department also recommends staggering bloom times to make sure hummingbirds have a food source for the entire season, as well as providing a source of water and trees or tall shrubs for nesting and perching. Make sure to avoid using pesticides that kill small insects that hummingbirds regularly eat. Here are some of the best Midwestern plants to grow for hummingbirds, according to UW-Madison. There are many other plants that will also attract the birds, so find a longer list here. Cuphea, especially "David Verity" cuphea plants Cardinals Coral honeysuckle Beebalm Texas or scarlet sage Blue anise sage Amateur birders can report and track their daily bird sightings on the following sites: Wisconsin eBird: Allows you to report and track your daily sighting from your birding excursions. You can also see real-time bird sightings from other birders across the state. Wisconsin Society of Ornithology: Provides information to document rare birds and how to use eBird for seasonal reports. The Great Backyard Bird Count: A global project to record bird abundance and distribution. You can contribute by reporting your observations of Wisconsin birds. Report a rare bird: This information is used for species on Wisconsin's Natural Heritage Working List. Report a sick or dead bird by using the directory of wildlife rehabilitators or contacting your local DNR office. This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Here's where hummingbirds have been sighted in Wisconsin this spring
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Spring's annual hummingbird migration is reaching Michigan. Where the tiny birds are now
The annual migration of hummingbirds has reached Michigan, according to bird spotters in the Midwest. The most common Michigan hummingbird, the ruby throat hummingbird, has been spotted in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. "Research indicates a hummingbird can travel as much as 23 miles in one day. However, during migration as they cross the Gulf of Mexico they may cover up to 500 miles at a time. Their average speed in direct flight is in the range of 20-30mph, and up to three times that fast during courtship dives," Hummingbird Central's website says about the migration. The spring 2025 hummingbird migration season has been tracked northward by Hummingbird Central's digital map. Here's what to know. Ruby throated hummingbirds have been spotted arriving north in Michigan for the season, in the southern part of the state's Lower Peninsula, Hummingbird Central's 2025 Hummingbird Spring Migration Map shows. The map is updated as of April 22, 2025. Hummingbirds are tiny birds with long bills and small wings, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute explained. Hummingbirds have various colored feathers, with male birds typically featuring brighter colors. More: A 17-year cicada brood is set to emerge. Will Michigan hear the big-eyed insects? Hummingbirds typically migrate north in the late winter and spring after spending their winters in parts of Central America or Mexico, Hummingbird Central said. According to there are six different hummingbird species you may spot in Michigan, although most are rare visitors. More: Want to encourage pollinators to visit your garden? How you can attract Michigan's bees The most common is the ruby throated hummingbird. Named for the iridescent orange-red throat patch of the male. Females are white-throated. Both sexes exhibit a metallic-green hue on the upperparts and pale-gray, faintly scalloped underparts. Males are slightly smaller than females and have forked black tales. Rufous hummingbirds generally live west of the Rocky Mountains, but sometimes are seen in Michigan. Anna's hummingbird is a stocky little hummingbird with green and gray-brown plumage. The male has a bright-pink iridescent head and throat. Its call is scratchy and metallic-sounding. White-eared hummingbird is named for the white stripe that extends over the ears towards the neck on either side. Broad-billed hummingbird is named for its broad bill. It is similar in appearance to the white-eared hummingbird. Males are bright green, with a blue throat patch and a black-tipped red bill. Females are lime-green above and gray-brown below with a white eye stripe. Mexican Violetear. They are uncommon visitors to the southern United States. Vagrants make rare appearances across the continent, as far north as Canada, and have been occasionally spotted in Michigan. Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Spring's hummingbird migration reaches Michigan. Where to find them
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
When do hummingbirds return to Ohio? Interactive map, when to put out feeders, more
April is in full swing, which means it's time for spring showers, blooming flowers and beautiful melodies coming from your garden. That's right, hummingbirds are making their way back to Southern Ohio. These small birds travel thousands of miles each year during spring migration. While en route to their new home, hummingbirds may fly up to 23 miles per day and can go as fast as 60 miles per hour, according to Hummingbird Central. Here's what you should know about these precious flying jewels. For the past 10 years, Hummingbird Central has tracked hummingbirds' northward migration. Ken Freeman, a Hummingbird Central staff member, says the site relies on "citizen spotters" to report their first hummingbird sightings. The project starts in January and continues through May. Reports have already started rolling in from Texas, Florida, Louisiana and California, with the earliest sighting reported on Jan. 26 in Key Largo, Florida. A male ruby-throated hummingbird was also spotted in Union, Kentucky, roughly 17 miles from Cincinnati, on March 9. A mother ruby-throated hummingbird was spotted March 9 in Saint Marys, West Virginia, near the Ohio River. AccuWeather shared a map on Facebook showing when different regions of the country can expect to see hummingbirds. According to the map, hummingbirds will arrive in the southern half of the Buckeye State from April 1 to 15, and the northern half from April 15 to 30. That largely agrees with the dates shown by Hummingbird Central. In 2024, the site's interactive map shows the earliest hummingbird sighting in Otway, Ohio, near Portsmouth, on April 14. Other sightings in the southern portion of the state range from April 15 to 25. Take a look at the 2025 hummingbird migration map to see when you might spot them in Ohio. There are two main species of hummingbirds in Ohio, according to Bird Advisors: ruby-throated hummingbirds and rufous hummingbirds. However, a total of seven hummingbirds are recognized in state bird records. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are a common sight during the summer months. They are bright green on the back and crown, with a gray-white underside. The males also have an iridescent red throat and the females have brownish crowns and sides. Rufous hummingbirds aren't as common in Ohio, but a few do wander this far north in the winter each year, Bird Advisors says. The males have a bright orange back and belly, a white patch below the throat and iridescent red throats. The females are greenish-brown on the back and rusty colored on the sides with a whitish belly. Other rare hummingbird species that you may see in Ohio include: Mexican violetears. Black-chinned hummingbirds. Calliope hummingbirds. Allen's hummingbirds. Anna's hummingbirds. Homemade nectar hummingbird feeders, made with one part white sugar and four parts water, can be placed outside before or around the birds' arrival. Bird Feeder Hub recommends Ohioans put hummingbird feeders outside in mid- to late-April, but other birding outlets suggest they can go up even earlier. Nectar-rich, brightly-colored tubular flowers will attract hummingbirds to your garden, the Old Farmer's Almanac says. Some of these flowering plants include bee balms, columbine flowers, daylilies, lupines and petunias. To make your garden even more inviting to these tiny birds, the Almanac suggests planting flowers with space in between, which gives hummingbirds room to hover, and providing shaded areas. Hummingbirds rely on bright colors to find their food and are most attracted to red and orange hues. If you go the homemade nectar route, the Almanac warns not to dye the mixture red, as this could harm the birds. Instead, use a red-colored feeder to attract them. Their diet typically consists of nectar from flowers and small insects, such as aphids and spiders, per Hummingbird Central. Hummingbirds' average speed in direct flight ranges between 20 and 30 mph. They can fly up to three times as fast during courtship dives, which males do when attempting to mate with a female. The American Bird Conservatory writes that many hummingbird species have adapted to urban environments, including the ruby-throated hummingbird. They can be seen nesting in wires, plant hangers and other human-made items. However, most breeds prefer to seek cover under trees near water. Trees provide shelter for adult hummingbirds and their chicks, while the water keeps the area cool, the site adds. They tend to nest on thinner branches roughly one foot from tree trunks. In the winter, a majority of hummingbird species fly hundreds or even thousands of miles from the northern United States and Canada down to Mexico or Central America, according to the National Audubon Society. Scientists estimate that the journey takes two to three weeks. However, there's one species, Anna's hummingbird, that has evolved to withstand the winter. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When do hummingbirds return to Ohio? Everything to know
CBS News
15-04-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
When are hummingbirds returning to Massachusetts?
Two hundred and fifty years ago this Friday, the cry went out from Charlestown to Concord "The Redcoats are coming!" It just so happens that mid to late April is time for another red-splashed arrival. The ruby throated hummingbirds are coming (back)! OK, maybe you're not a certified bird nerd. But it's never too late to start! Observing the seasonal rhythms as new life returns to New England is one of the redeeming qualities of spring, which can otherwise be a trying time around here (read: last weekend). While the osprey makes March headlines, it's usually the hummingbirds that catch the most attention for backyard enthusiasts. Ruby throated hummingbirds are the smallest breeding bird in Massachusetts, tipping the scales at about the same weight as a nickel. Whizzing by your windows on a warm spring or summer day, they beat their wings at a whopping 53 times per second. As of Monday, the farthest-northern sighting by citizen scientists was just shy of New York City, per Hummingbird Central . Given that we have more consistently mild air in the forecast, it's likely that the first southern New England sightings will come by late this week and into Easter weekend. If you want to attract them to your yard, the same tactic makes them happy as would make any houseguest happy. Throw out some snacks! The hummingbird diet features sugar, and plenty of it. They eat more than their own body weight in insects and nectar every day. To make your own nectar, combine four parts boiling water to one-part refined sugar. Let it cool and pour it into the feeder. You may see some hummingbird foods dyed red, but it is not necessary. The color of the nectar doesn't matter to them, though the ports of your feeder do. This weekend would be a great time to put a feeder out (wait another week for areas more toward northern Massachusetts and New Hampshire/Vermont). The males return to the region first to establish their territory and essentially set up camp to court the females, who will follow several days later.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Get your feeders ready, hummingbirds are back in Ohio. See where on this interactive map
Get your feeders ready, hummingbirds are back in Ohio after migrating thousands of miles from their winter habitats in Mexico and Central America. Here's where they have been spotted. According to the interactive migration map at Hummingbird Central, hummingbirds were first spotted in the Buckeye State on March 31 in Cincinnati. On April 9, another was seen in Grove City, southwest of Columbus. That's as far north as they've come so far, according to the map. There have been other sightings in southern Ohio, and along the Ohio River in Kentucky and West Virginia. For more than a decade, Hummingbird Central has tracked hummingbirds' northward migration, relying on "citizen spotters" to report their first hummingbird sightings, according to Ken Freeman, a Hummingbird Central staff member. Those reports are then plotted on an interactive map that shows the date and location of the site, and any comments that spotters want to leave. Sightings are color-coded by hummingbird species. Through mid-April, ruby-throated hummingbirds have been spotted as far north as southern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, working their way northward from the Gulf Coast. Other species have been spotted in Texas, Oklahoma and the Southwest. Some hummingbirds in California and the Pacific Northwest do not migrate, according to the website. The earliest hummingbird sighting reported on the map was on Jan. 26 in Key Largo, Florida. AccuWeather shared a map on Facebook showing when different regions of the country can expect to see hummingbirds. According to the map, hummingbirds will arrive in the southern half of the Buckeye State from April 1 to 15, and the northern half from April 15 to 30. Hummingbird fans rejoice! The ruby-throated hummingbirds are on their way back to the eastern US after spending the winter in Mexico and South America. Posted by AccuWeather on Friday, March 7, 2025 That largely aligns with the dates shown by Hummingbird Central. In 2024, the site's interactive map shows the earliest hummingbird sighting in Otway, Ohio, near Portsmouth, on April 14. Other sightings in the southern portion of the state range from April 15 to 25. There are two main species of hummingbirds in Ohio, according to Bird Advisors, but a total of seven are recognized in state bird records. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are a common sight in summer. They are bright green on the back and crown, with a gray-white underside. Males have an iridescent red throat. Female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are green on the back and white underneath, with brownish crowns and sides. Rufous hummingbirds are not very common in Ohio, but a few each year do wander this far north, Bird Advisors says. They are bright orange on the back and belly, a white patch below the throat, and an iridescent red throat in the males. The females are greenish-brown on the back and rusty-colored on the sides with a whitish belly. Mexican violetears are extremely rare in Ohio. Some non-breeding Mexican violetears may fly north into the United States, more commonly to Texas. Some have been spotted as far north as Michigan and Ohio but very rarely. Black-chinned hummingbirds have only been seen in 2020, near Columbus. Calliope hummingbirds have only been spotted here a few times around Columbus, 2017 being the last. Allen's hummingbirds have only been spotted in Ohio a few times in winter. They have not been recorded in the past 10 years. Anna's hummingbirds have been spotted only a few times in the state in winter. Hellbenders: They're real, large and live in Ohio, and they showed up on an ODNR T-shirt If you are interested in attracting more hummingbirds to your homes and gardens this spring, here are a few of Hummingbird Central's tips and tricks: Shelter: Large trees, shrubs and gardens help to provide hummingbirds with not only food but also a sense of protection and a place for resting in between meals. Food in nature: The hummingbird's diet includes nectar from flowers, red flowers being their favorite, and small insects. Water: Hummingbirds enjoy shallow bird baths for both drinking and bathing. They tend to especially enjoy water with movement, like a small waterfall. Plants and flowers: Some of hummingbirds' favorite flowers and plants that you can add to your garden include, lantana, zinnias, pentas, salvia, batface cuphea, fire bush, nasturtiums and coreopsis. Hummingbird feeders: Along with flowers and plants to provide shelter, hummingbird feeders are another great way to attract these little birds to your garden. Camouflage: Can you spot this venomous snake hiding in plain sight? It's native to Ohio. Where to find it Hummingbirds are drawn to tubular flowers that provide large amounts of nectar, according to online retailer Rare Roots. They often gravitate to red flowers, per The Spruce, but will visit all colors of flowers if it provides a meal. Some of the more popular flowers to attract hummingbirds include phlox, lupine, columbine, hollyhocks, dianthus and butterfly bush, among others. The typical backyard hummingbird feeder is filled with sugar water. But that's only a small portion of a hummingbird's diet. The sucrose in flower nectar and sugar water gives hummingbirds the energy for their high metabolisms and swift wings, according to The Spruce, but it lacks protein. Up to 80% of their diet is small insects like mosquitoes, flies, gnats, spiders and aphids, reports Choose Natives, which promotes using native North American plants over invasive species to attract the birds. If you want to make your own hummingbird nectar for backyard feeders, use a 4-to-1 ratio of water to sugar, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. Mix the water and sugar until fully dissolved, and store in the refrigerator between fills. Change the solution in hummingbird feeders frequently. The National Zoo recommends changing feeders every other day and cleaning them thoroughly each time to prevent mold growth. Bird Feeder Hub recommends putting hummingbird feeders outside in mid- to late-April in the Buckeye State. But they can go out even earlier, especially if the migration map shows hummingbirds arriving early. The hum of a hummingbird is the noise generated by their wings, according to Live Science. Hummingbird wings move at around 70 beats per second, or more than 4,000 beats per minute. Unique among birds, hummingbirds' wings allow them to hover. Hummingbirds typically nest in the spring when they reach their breeding grounds, but that depends on the species, according to the American Bird Conservancy. They build tiny nests lined with thistledown, dandelion or other soft plant material, attached to a tree branch using spider webs and camouflaged by lichen or moss. Hummingbirds lay eggs the size of small jellybeans that hatch in about two weeks. The chicks are cared for by their mother for about a month to 60 days depending on the species, after which they leave the nest. According to the conservancy, hummingbird chicks "need a high-protein diet of insects to fuel fast growth and to develop strong bones and beaks." The mother gathers food several times a day and regurgitates it into the babies' mouths. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hummingbirds return to Ohio. See where on this interactive map
