HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Over a hundred community members spent their Saturday morning at Jeffers Bend Environmental Center for the fourth annual Hummingbird Festival. The festival’s purpose is to inform community members, especially children, on the hummingbird’s effect on the environment.

Hosted by the Pennyrile Resource Conservation and Development Steering Committee and the Christian County Master Gardeners, the festival sheds light on hummingbirds, specifically the Ruby-throated species native to Kentucky, and their migration south for the winter. Hummingbirds were banded during the event by the Southeastern Avian Research committee to track their southern travels, and researcher Cyndi Routledge said the birds are headed all the way for the Yucatan Peninsula in southeast Mexico.

Community members had the opportunity to release the hummingbirds after the banding and learn about their impact on the environment. Christian County Master Gardeners also sold local pollinator plants grown by committee members and local youth.

Pennyrile RC&D coordinator Charles Turner said the event is important for the youth because there aren’t as many young people farming and in touch with the environment as much anymore.

“We’ve built a community garden where children can help plant watermelon, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers and more,” Turner told Christian County Now. “The kids really enjoy learning and doing hands-on activities.”

Other community organizations including the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library and the Little River Audubon Society set up booths with activities for kids and information on hummingbirds and other local pollinators. Children were seen doing crafts and also participating in a poster contest and face painting. A silent auction was held during the event, with cakes, hummingbird feeders, plant materials and more during the event.

Turner said festival chair David Chiles and Pennyrile RC&D plan to continue this event yearly, and that the event has continued to see great turnout from the community. Jeffers Bend Environmental Center is overseen by the Pennyrile RC&D Steering Committee.

Just next month, Jeffers Bend will host another big event with their NatureFest planned for Sept. 19.

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