Get those hummingbird feeders ready for the 2011 spring migration of the ruby-throated hummingbirds. The migration back into the United States of the ruby-throated hummingbirds has started. February 23rd, 2011, was the first reported sighting of the ruby-throated hummingbird on hummingbirds.net along the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi.
Few details are known about the migration of the hummingbird. Not many hummingbirds are banded each year and of those who are, very few are recaptured to provide the necessary facts of the tiny bird’s migration activity. It is unlikely that enough data will be collected to fill in the unknowns, until very small, lightweight transmitters are invented.
The ruby-throated hummingbirds have started to migrate north after spending their winter in southern Mexico or western Panama. The tiny hummingbirds must double their weight to fuel this extremely long journey. Many of the birds will be migrating up to 2500 miles, including a trip across the Gulf of Mexico that is around 500 miles long and will take some 20 hours. Some ruby-throated hummingbirds will choose the longer, but less difficult, trip along Eastern Mexico into Texas and then migrate up the United States from there.
The males begin the migration first with the females following approximately a week and a half behind. The ruby-throated hummingbirds will spread the migration over two or three months.
After arriving in Eastern Texas or southern Florida they travel as far north as Nova Scotia, Labrador, New Brunswick or as far west as Minnesota into Manitoba , Saskatchewan and Alberta. Depending on the weather and the availability of food, the ruby-throated hummingbirds will travel up to 20 miles a day. It is fascinating and evidence shows that individual hummingbirds use the same migration route and return to the same place each year.
Follow the ruby-throated hummingbirds migration this year and don’t forget to get the hummingbird feeder ready because they will need a sip all along their route.
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Wonderful! Thank you for the information. I’m very excited and seeing a hummingbird pass through my area this early will be fantastic! I had the opportunity to catch a glance at two of them feeding from my Zinnia’s, late in the summer season last year.
We can’t wait either. We are expecting to see them in our area in 2 or 3 weeks. They are so much fun to watch.
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