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Nature In The Natural State: Hummingbird Migration

This month, hummingbirds will depart our yards for their long migration to Mexico and Central America. Male birds leave first, followed by females.

In preparation for their journey, they feed voraciously and develop fat deposits that almost double their weight. While over land they travel about 20 miles a day, but over the Gulf they fly 500 miles in less than a day.

Hummingbirds are solitary, and migrate alone. They do not ride on the backs of larger birds, but fly under their own power.

Leaving your hummingbird feeder out does not cause birds to postpone migration. They will depart whether or not your feeder is out. In fact, leaving it out will help migrating birds who are passing through, and the stragglers who won’t come through until early October.