Follow the Spring Return of the Hummingbirds
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As of the morning of March 19th, more than a dozen hummingbird sightings throughout North Carolina have been recorded in eBird, a bird database managed and operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Hummingbirds, particularly the ruby-throated hummingbird, start their migration in late February to early March in order to find a temporary home to breed.
Why are they coming here and from where? Each year in early spring, hummingbirds leave Mexico and Central America and make their way to the eastern and southern United States.
Hummingbirds prefer to migrate alone and tend to fly during the day to capitalize on food, however, the ruby-throated hummingbird is known to fly at night because it will fly non-stop north across the Gulf of Mexico, a trek of over 500 miles. Once they arrive, they will mate, lay eggs, and raise young in the relatively same location where they were hatched.
What kind of hummingbird will we see here in Transylvania County? According to the American Bird Conservancy, there are about 365 species of hummingbirds in the Americas, 15 of which live in the United States. In addition to those species, there are about nine vagrant species that occasionally cross into the United States. While there have been documented sightings of a variety of these vagrants in North Carolina, here in Transylvania County it is very likely the hummingbird visiting your feeder is a ruby-throated hummingbird as it is the most common of all hummingbird species.
How can I attract and help hummingbirds here in Transylvania County? The most common and easiest way is to put up a hummingbird feeder. Hummingbirds have incredible metabolisms. While they also feed on insects such as aphids and spiders, their diets consist heavily of the sugar-laden nectar provided in flowers and your feeder.
To sustain this incredible metabolism hummingbirds will visit between 1,000 and 2,000 flowers per day. Installing feeders in your yard can be very easy. Make a nectar of one part sugar to four parts water, but avoid using the red-dyed products as well as honey. There is no need to put too much into your feeder at once as you should be changing out the solution and the feeder every 48 hours or so.
Can I plant flowers that will attract the birds? Absolutely. Hummingbirds rely heavily on the nectar provided by flowers. Planting colorful, native flowers in your garden or in a container can provide a source of food for the hummingbird as well as entertainment for you as you watch them navigate the plant.
Great plants you can add to your garden or in a container that will attract hummingbirds include wild columbine, bee balm, and coral honeysuckle. You can also contact the Transylvania County Extension Office for other recommendations for native plants that will attract birds.
When do the hummingbirds migrate south? Ruby-throated hummingbirds will usually start their south migration in late August into September. This is a great time of the year for feeders and plants as the birds will be feeding voraciously putting on necessary fat for the long transit. Males typically migrate first and are followed by the females about 10-14 days after the males.
Will leaving up my feeder prevent hummingbirds from migrating? No. Migration is driven by weather, sunlight patterns and decreasing light, changes in plants and insect populations, and the bird’s behavioral instincts and internal clock. However, it is common to have hummingbirds not migrate and remain in your area even late into the fall or beginning of winter.
There are some great websites and resources to better understand the hummingbird and how to keep them happy that include eBird, Audubon North Carolina, Transylvania County Bird Club, and the Transylvania County Extension Office.
You can also join the Transylvania County Bird Club on one of our numerous bird walks throughout Transylvania County.
All our walks are free and everyone is welcome. It is a great way to connect with your neighbors, form friendships, and enjoy nature.
More information about the TCBC is available online.
Happy birding!
Steve Matadobra is the vice president of the Transylvania County Bird Club. He is also an avid wildlife and nature photographer and Transylvania County Master Gardener.
A male ruby-throated hummingbird perches between sips at the feeder.
Courtesy photo, Steve Matadobra