HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Hummingbird season is fast approaching, and parts of Southern Kentucky will soon have the chance to see these tiny, jewel like birds up close in droves.
Cyndi Routledge with Southeastern Avian Research said the area will start seeing hummingbirds as early as April. After spending their winter in the Yucatan Peninsula and as far south as Northern Panama, these speedsters will travel all the way through parts of Kentucky to the northern part of the country.
She has been deeply involved in hummingbird banding for years to collect data about the fascinating birds. That time has been spent volunteering with her non-profit for over 11 years and spending five years as an intern to learn the ropes on how to handle the birds. She has banded an impressive 18,000 hummingbirds over this time. “Each bird is unique and exciting, I never get tired of it,” she said.
Creating a backyard haven
In Christian County, the Ruby Throat Hummingbird is the only species that will be seen. Routledge shares that to attract these birds to your own backyard, it takes more than simply hanging a feeder.
“A feeder is what I call fast food,” she said. “To support any bird species, you need a well-rounded habitat including food, water, cover, and a place to raise their young.” Routledge suggests that a backyard haven for hummingbirds should include native flowers and plants that attract native insects, which provide nectar and protein.
She also recommends incorporating bushes, trees, and shrubs which offer the perfect cover for hummingbirds to rest and prune their feathers. Since hummingbirds use their feet to grip branches, they prefer ones that are smaller, similar to a pinky finger size. Zip ties can be attached to a small branch to accommodate their small feet and provide a proper perch.
Attracting a hummingbird also takes patience because the birds are so smart. Routledge explained, “Their brains account for 25% of their body weight, and they remember every feeder and every yard they have visited. If you are new to putting out a feeder, they won’t know it’s there until they discover it.”
Her perfect recipe for a hummingbird feeder is mixing four parts warm water, one part white cane sugar and allowing it to dissolve. She says this recipe is the closest replication for the nectar they seek, emphasizing the benefit of making it from scratch, “Don’t ever use the red dye from the store, it is my one message to people,” she said.
Hummingbird spectacles
Jeffers Bend Environmental Center is an incredible place to see hummingbirds this summer, Routledge told Christian County Now. In August they host a hummingbird festival when most of the birds are leaving for their migration. IN 2024 Routledge led demonstrations on how to band and examine a hummingbird to eager crowds.
Another great place to see hundreds of these birds is Land Between the Lakes Recreation area. “Early mornings is the best time to visit South Welcome Station on the border of Dover and Woodlands Nature Station. It’s incredible to sit up there and have them zipping all around you,” said Routledge.
For more information on hummingbirds, visit southeasternavianresearch.org or contact Cyndi Routledge at routledges@bellsouth.net.
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