Mar 24, 2019 3 min read

With cold, snowy weather finally winding down, it’s a good time to dig out the hummingbird feeders. It won’t be long before the small, yet miraculously fast birds make their way north.

For the past several months, the hummingbirds have joined many other winged species in migrating south for warmer climates.

“Hummingbirds that breed in North American overwinter in Mexico, though migration corridors vary by species,” according to officials with the National Park Service.

“Hummingbirds take epic flights that follow the coasts, the spine of the Rockies, or even across the Gulf of Mexico in a long-distance 18- to 22-hour, nonstop flight,” they continued.

As for when the ruby-throated hummers will return to your backyard, the NPS says it’s dependent on a couple factors.

“Their migration flights to the north in the spring correspond to flowering times of native plants at their destination,” NPS officials said. “Climate change may affect this synchronization.”

Though the ruby-throated hummingbirds are among the most popular ones in our region, more than 300 species live in Central and South America – 17 of which breed in the United States.

Other popular species include the black-chinned, rufus and broad-tailed hummingbirds.

Hummingbird Central – a site that runs an annual spring migration map for folks to mark and track when hummers move up north – said the winged birds can start their journey as early as February, though for areas further north, it’ll be later this spring before they’re here.

“Hummingbirds fly by day when nectar sources such as flowers are more abundant,” the site said. “Flying low allows the birds to see, and stop at, food supplies along the way. They are also experts at using tail winds to help reach their destination faster and by consuming less energy and body fat.”

During a hummingbird’s lengthy trip back to your neck of the woods, it’s not unusual for their tiny hearts to beat up to 1,260 times a minute, while their wings flap as many as 15 to 80 times in a single second.

“To support this high energy level, a hummingbird will typically gain 25-40 percent of their body weight before they start migration in order to make the long trek over land, and water,” according to Hummingbird Central officials.

So far, their migration map has quite a few pings, indicating that the ruby-throated hummers have been spotted as far north now as North Carolina. They’ll continue their trek upwards toward the New England area as temperatures continue to rise.

Last year, their site map indicated several ruby-throated hummer sightings between April 25 and May 3 – a week during which sightings were reported in New Geneva, Uniontown, Beallsville, Seven Springs, Smithton and West Finley.

Reports from 2017 indicate the same timeline.

Once here, the hummers will stick around until August or September, at which time they’ll begin their treks south.

Until they show up in about a month or so, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a couple recommendations about your hummingbird feeders and homebrew nectar.

“Nectar can be made from dissolving one part table sugar in four parts boiling water,” DOA officials stated, noting that unused portions can be stored in the refrigerator. “Change the nectar and clean the feeder with hot water every 3-4 days – more often in hot weather – to prevent nectar from becoming rancid, cloudy, or moldy.”

They also strongly advise against using red food coloring, honey or other artificial sweeteners, as they may cause adverse health problems.