ROANOKE, Va. – Spring is in the air, and so are the season’s tiniest travelers. According to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center, hummingbird migration is underway, and it won’t be long before they venture out to our neck of the woods.
Many of them will travel extraordinary lengths, with some flying across the Gulf of Mexico in one flight. The Wildlife Center explained that there are more than 350 different species worldwide, 15 of which can be found in the United States.
If you normally put your hummingbird feeders out, we’re sure you’ve come across the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, as it is the most common in our area. But the Wildlife Center said it’s a chance you could get a glimpse of a Rufous or an Allen’s Hummingbird, which are rarely seen in Southwest Virginia. Sometimes, however, they are blown off their migratory routes.
According to the Wildlife Center, males tend to arrive first with their bright red throats, followed by the females shortly after.
Planning on putting your hummingbird feeder out? Here are some tips the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center recommends:
- Clean your feeders every 3-5 days with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water; be sure to clean the inside thoroughly, too.
- Ensure you’re using the proper water-to-sugar ratio, which is 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water. Bring the solution to a boil and then let it cool before setting out. Leftover sugar water can be refrigerated for up to a week.
- Never leave out a dirty feeder! This can develop a fungus that causes a hummingbird’s tongue to swell, which prevents them from being able to withdraw their tongue. This condition, called, Hummers Candidiasis, means they can’t eat and they will slowly starve to death.
- Do not use dyes, honey, molasses or raw sugar. If the syrup looks cloudy after being stored for a long time, do not use it.
- Avoid placing the feeder in direct sunlight as this will make the water go bad even faster.
The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center didn’t provide a specific time regarding when the hummingbirds will arrive but said they will be migrating to our area “very soon.”
