Thousands Of Hummingbirds Are Headed Straight For Maine This Fall
By Michelle|Published August 25, 2020
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
It’s fairly easy to spot wildlife in Maine. From moose to birds to everything in between, if you love wildlife this is a great place to be. In fact, most of the time it takes minimal effort to spot something truly special. But, one animal is a bit harder to see. Hummingbirds feel like a special treat and that’s why we look forward to the spring and fall migrations when spotting them is so much easier. And we’re smack in the middle of their fall migration!
If you loved spotting hummingbirds during the spring migration north you’ll love that there’s a second chance to enjoy these beautiful birds! Starting in late August and going through most of September tens of thousands of hummingbirds will be flying south back towards Mexico and Central America for the winter.
In February, hummingbirds head north for their U.S. breeding grounds. Then they avoid the cold temps of winter by heading to warmer, more humid climates in the fall. Here's where they've been seen so far.
How do they know when to make the trip? Science tells us they have an internal calendar that tells them exactly when they need to leave. Experts believe that this clock kicks in when days become shorter, darkness sets in earlier, and flowers and nectar begin to dwindle.
While tens of thousands of hummingbirds make this journey it can still be hard to spot them. These tiny animals flap their wings between 15 and 80 times a second and can travel up to 23 miles each day of their journey.
If you want to increase your chances of seeing them be sure to put out hummingbird food, which is just a mixture of sugar and water. This provides food and energy for them along the way. It’s best to put this near a window so you can see them when they visit.
There are a variety of different types of hummingbirds, but the most commonly spotted is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. You’ll know the males by their ruby-red throat area, a white collar, an emerald green back and a forked tail.
If you’ve already begun seeing the hummingbirds, let us know! We’d love to hear where they’re already making an appearance.
You can learn more about hummingbird migration patterns by checking out Hummingbird Central. And you can track the migration by day (and even report your own sightings) by clicking here.
