Right now we have peak numbers of hummingbirds at feeders. One reason for the high numbers is all the young of the year have fledged and are now hungry "teenagers". The other reason has to do with migration. Many of the hummingbirds in our region now have come from the northern Rockies and even as far away as southern Alaska. Actually, southward hummingbird migration started back in June, with our first southbound birds showing up around the 4^th of July. Males migrate through first, then females, and finally the young of the year. Migrants and locals will also disperse from their nesting mountain habitat at this time of year and visit the plains. Interestingly, our rarest hummingbird visitor, the calliope hummingbird, is the most common plains visitor.

Enjoy these beautiful marvels of nature now because they won't be with us for too long. By the end of August most of our hummingbirds have left for warmer climes. However, some humminbirds may be with us even in early October. Contrary to some common "knowledge", feeding humminbirds not keep them from migrating. Your feeding the hummingbirds will actually help them leave. We suggest you leave your feeder out until no more birds are visiting, then take it down for the winter.