BATON ROUGE — Hummingbirds are about to start their migration journey south, which means you’ll soon be able to spot them across Louisiana.
According to Accuweather, ruby-throated hummingbird migration will ramp up in mid-September as cooler weather arrives. A migration map shows that migration through the Bayou State will happen anytime between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11.
Now is the time to make sure your hummingbird feeders are clean and full to help fuel hummingbird’s trek south. You can make nectar at home with a few ingredients, following a recipe like this one. When the weather is hot and sunny, the nectar can spoil in two to three days. If you notice your mixture turning opaque or milky white, you should dump the solution and thoroughly clean it.
Accuweather and the Mississippi State University Extension Service say people who live along the Gulf Coast can keep their feeders up as late as early winter.
Original story
BATON ROUGE — It’s time to fill your hummingbird feeders! Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are making the trek south for the winter, and they’ll be flying through the Bayou State to get there.
According to Hummingbird Central, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds gather in a few southern states, including Louisiana, in September and October to prepare for their final push south. They travel over the Gulf of Mexico or an overland route to get to Mexico or Central America.
Hummingbird Central says when hummingbirds migrate, their hearts beat up to 1,260 times a minute, and their wings flap between 15 and 80 times a second. To support all of that energy output, hummingbirds typically gain 25-40% of their body weight before starting migration.
You can help hummingbirds fuel their migration by getting a hummingbird feeder and making nectar. You can make nectar at home with a few ingredients, following a recipe like this one. Experts suggest leaving feeders out about two weeks after your last hummingbird spotting, to help feed late migrators.
While most hummingbirds migrate out of the United States, according to Hummingbird Central, some stay in the southern U.S. during mild winters. Several species have been spotted in South Louisiana during the winter months, including the Ruby-throated, Rufous, Black-chinned, and Buff-bellied.
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