In mid- February, I was notified that my proposal “A Summer of Hummers” was selected for funding by the Lilly Endowment. GREAT NEWS! This means a summer of observing and learning about hummingbirds both locally and globally during 2011. The original plan was to spend the summer following some citizen scientists while they band ruby-throated hummingbirds in the mid-west and to travel to Ecuador to see some of the astounding diversity of hummingbirds (132 species) that exist there. And of course, to share what I learned with my students and colleagues.
SPRING 2011 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD first-bird reports (USA)
But, I could not wait until summer! So, my “Summer of Hummers” began in the spring. In February, I started tracking the progress of the ruby-throated hummingbirds (RTHUs) as they began arriving on the Gulf Coast. As you can see from the map, the earliest “first-bird” report for 2011 was February 23rd. By mid-March, the RTHUs were moving northward but still not into my home state of Indiana. The first hummingbird of the year for Indiana was documented on March 24th. To follow the progress of migration and learn more about the ruby-throated hummingbird you might want to visit:
