Keep Your Eyes Peeled, Thousands Of Hummingbirds Are Headed Right For Colorado During Their Migration This Spring
Thanks to all of the bad news that is headlining the news (and our lives), the year 2020 has been strange, to say the least. While there are plenty of uncertainties plaguing the world, there is one constant that we can still count on, which is the magical migration of thousands of hummingbirds that are slated to hit Colorado early this spring:
Beginning in mid-April, keep your eyes peeled, as hummingbirds should start trickling into the state, with thousands traveling through by the beginning of June.
Every February, hummingbirds — who have been living in warm and humid places like South America and Mexico since late fall — begin making their long trip north, which can span hundreds to thousands of miles depending on the whereabouts of their nesting grounds.
Despite beginning their trip in late February and traveling every day, the hummingbirds will not reach their final destination (typically Canada) until the very end of spring, thanks — in part — to their small frames and wings that flap 15 to 80 times per second.
While their bodies are small and their destination is far, hummingbirds can still travel up to 23 miles per day, which is made possible by healthy hearts that beat up to 1,260 times per minute.
Do you wish to help the hummingbirds along with their journey? You can do so by providing them with fresh sugar water, which should be emptied no later than 2 weeks after your last bird sighting.
What kind of hummingbirds can you expect to see during the springtime migration? In Colorado, the most common types of hummingbirds include the Purple-throated Calliope, Ruby-Throated, and brown and green Rufous (pictured).
