Hummingbird migration: Tiny birds making a big journey
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Photo courtesy of Alabama Extension
By Emma Greene
Alabama Extension News
In late September and early October, hummingbirds are expected to migrate through Alabama. Allyson Shabel, an Alabama Extension urban home horticulture regional agent at Alabama A&M University, offers tips for helping hummingbirds during their migration season.
About Hummingbird Migration
Hummingbirds, like many birds, are a migratory species. Travelling approximately 20 to 25 miles per day, they head south for the winter toward Central America and Mexico to reach a warmer climate and search for food. Migration has already begun in the northern parts of the U.S. and Canada.
Hummingbirds have unique qualities to their migration patterns. Unlike other bird species, hummingbirds migrate during the day and do not travel in a flock.
“If they were to all migrate together, then all of the birds would try to feed on the same flowers, and there is just not enough nectar,” Shabel said. “So, they migrate individually.”
Shabel said hummingbirds also need a lot of protein, especially during migration. They get their protein from eating insects, such as aphids, spiders, gnats or other small insects.
Creating a Hummingbird Stop
Helping hummingbirds on their journey can be a simple, fun activity. One way to do this is by leaving out nectar. Be sure to keep hummingbird feeders full of a mixture of approximately four parts water and one part sugar. Refill them every two to four days. If they get cloudy, Shabel said to clean the feeders in between fillings if possible.
Hummingbirds tend to be territorial. Shabel said that they typically do not share a feeder, but during migration, they are more likely to share. Still, it might be beneficial to put multiple feeders out.
“This fall, to help feed the birds as they migrate through, put feeders about 10 feet or so apart and keep them full,” Shabel said. “You’ll see a lot more birds at your feeders when the main migration happens toward the end of September and early October.”
Even after most hummingbirds have come through, leave the feeders out for another couple of weeks to accommodate any late migrators.
Planting flowers that bloom in the fall can also help hummingbirds during migration. This will provide an extra source of nectar for them.
Some hummingbird enthusiasts host banding events to set up feeders and put bands on the hummingbirds to track them throughout the years and better understand their migration patterns. This could be an additional activity to learn more about hummingbirds and their migration.
More Information
For more information, read the Alabama Extension publication “Hummingbirds in Alabama” at aces.edu or contact your local forestry, wildlife and natural resources Extension agent.
