Hummingbird festival is a unique moment when you can meet the hummingbirds up close, learn about their behavior, and witness the banding process. There are many events, workshops, and festivals to check out, and some also celebrate the hummingbird migration.
Here are some of the best events to check out across the US. It includes a bonus section of how to make your garden hummingbird-friendly and celebrate these birds daily.
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What Is the Hummingbird Festival About?
There are several kinds of hummingbird events, which include:
- festivals
- banding events
- exhibits
- workshops
Hummingbird events are put together to celebrate hummingbirds. These events are usually family-friendly, with some live music, guided tours around gardens or parks, and hosts who teach you about these tiny birds, their behavior, and their effect on the ecology.
Hummingbird Festival List
Some events are free to enter, and others require a small donation. If you’re looking to further support the organizations behind the events, you can buy t-shirts and other hummingbird merch.
Some of the best known hummingbird events include:
Alaska Hummingbird Festival
Ketchikan, Alaska — Repeats annually every April, celebrating the return of male Rufous Hummingbirds.
Hummingbird Banding
Missouri State Parks — Enjoy close-ups with this species of birds.
Hummingbird Special
Logan County, Arkansas — Includes banding, garden tours, and more.
Hummingbird Migration Celebration
Holly Springs, Mississippi. Strawberry Plains Audubon Center — One of the Southeast’s biggest nature festivals, includes guided walks, live animal shows, a kids activity zone, and more.
Hummingbird Celebration
Rock Port, Texas — Supported by Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce. A celebration of the fall migration of the Ruby-throated hummingbird.
Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza
Lake Jackson, Texas — A celebration of thousands of hummingbirds migrating through the state.
Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area
Eager, Arizona — A unique opportunity to learn more about Arizona’s colorful forest hummingbird.
IAS Hummingbird Migration Celebration
Connersville, Indiana — This event is packed with activities where you can learn how to get hummingbirds in your garden.
Kern River Valley Hummingbird Celebration
Weldon, California — A workshop where you’ll learn how to maintain and make hummingbird feeders.
Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah
Henderson, Minnesota — A celebration of Ruby-throated hummingbird.
What Are Hummingbird Banding Events?
Hummingbird banding events are special events where you can watch bird banders work with birds up close. These hummingbird experts will conduct banding demonstrations while they talk about the hummingbirds.
Sometimes you could also get the chance to “adopt” the hummingbird. You can do this by donating to a specific organization.
What Month Is Hummingbird Season?
Hummingbird season starts around March when the first hummingbirds arrive along the Gulf coast. In the following two months, the birding trips will lead the hummingbirds towards northern and southern states, while some will go to central America.
Males usually arrive a few weeks before the females to prepare their territory for the breeding season. Hummingbirds will stay around until August/September, when their mating season will finish, and the fall migration starts.
How Many Species of Hummingbirds Are There?
Hummingbirds have their own family—Trochilidae. Currently, about 350 species of hummingbirds are around, with a few going extinct since the 19th century. A few new species get discovered each year.
How to Celebrate Hummingbirds at Home?
You can do several things if you’d like to celebrate these sweet birds at home. First, create a hummingbird garden by planting a native plant they’ll love. Then, set up some hummingbird feeders—this natural pollinator will enjoy an additional food source.
Plus, the feeder can help hummingbirds feel as if your garden is their winter home. They’ll still have something nice to eat if it gets colder before the migration period.
Leave the hummingbirds to get accustomed to the area and find all the flowers and feeders. Keep your pets away and create a safe space for tiny birds. Soon, you’ll be able to have your own family hummingbird celebration during summer.
Hummingbird Festival Overview
These tiny birds have always drawn attention to themselves, so it’s no wonder people decided to celebrate them and organize events and exhibits. Hummingbird festivals are ideal places to learn more about hummingbirds and bring the whole family.
Many annual hummingbird festival events change their theme, so you’ll get to see something new every year or simply celebrate the migration of the colorful birds.