Two research projects on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, led by Yanick Charette, under the supervision of Dr. Marc Bélisle, researcher and professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, are currently under way. The goal of the first is to understand how Ruby-throated Hummingbirds choose their nesting and feeding habitats and how they use their territory. This project will also identify the impacts, both positive and negative, of human activity on the survival of Ruby-throated Hummingbird populations.
Two research projects on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, led by Yanick Charette, under the supervision of Dr. Marc Bélisle, researcher and professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, are currently under way. The goal of the first is to understand how Ruby-throated Hummingbirds choose their nesting and feeding habitats and how they use their territory. This project will also identify the impacts, both positive and negative, of human activity on the survival of Ruby-throated Hummingbird populations.
© Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke 2007. All rights reserved.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris)
Credit: Yanick Charette
© Yanick Charette
The other project will attempt to determine the various migration corridors used by Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, in Quebec and across North America. To do so, during the spring migration period, hundreds of hummingbirds are banded and marked with a colour (red, orange, blue, yellow, green or purple) on their breasts. Amateur bird-watchers throughout America are asked to report their observations of marked hummingbirds. With this feedback, the research group will perhaps be able to identify the routes used by hummingbirds to get to their reproductive areas.
The other project will attempt to determine the various migration corridors used by Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, in Quebec and across North America. To do so, during the spring migration period, hundreds of hummingbirds are banded and marked with a colour (red, orange, blue, yellow, green or purple) on their breasts. Amateur bird-watchers throughout America are asked to report their observations of marked hummingbirds. With this feedback, the research group will perhaps be able to identify the routes used by hummingbirds to get to their reproductive areas.
© Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke 2007. All rights reserved.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Credit: Yanick Charette
© Yanick Charette
In the United States, thousands of hummingbirds are captured and banded in the same way. Thus, recaptures by banders from across North America help with the understanding of the various migration corridors followed by hummingbirds on a continental scale. These banding activities also permit an assessment of the number of fledglings raised in the reproductive season as well as the phenology of migration; in other words, hummingbird movement patterns over time. With time, we will be aware of migration trends for individual birds of various classes of sex and age.
For more information on Hummingbird research, consult the following Web sites: www.projetcolibris.org, hummingbirds.net/research.html
In the United States, thousands of hummingbirds are captured and banded in the same way. Thus, recaptures by banders from across North America help with the understanding of the various migration corridors followed by hummingbirds on a continental scale. These banding activities also permit an assessment of the number of fledglings raised in the reproductive season as well as the phenology of migration; in other words, hummingbird movement patterns over time. With time, we will be aware of migration trends for individual birds of various classes of sex and age.
For more information on Hummingbird research, consult the following Web sites: www.projetcolibris.org, hummingbirds.net/research.html
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Credit: Yanick Charette
© Yanick Charette
Dr. Andrew Hurly of the University of Lethbridge in Alberta studied the behaviour of 3 male Rufous Hummingbirds in the Rockies. He measured the periodicity with which they gathered pollen and nectar from 8 artificial flowers. Nectar was added to half of the flowers every 10 minutes, and to the other half every 20 minutes. Observations revealed that the hummingbirds returned to feed according to the schedule of each flower. Not bad for a brain that is 7000 times smaller than ours!
Dr. Andrew Hurly of the University of Lethbridge in Alberta studied the behaviour of 3 male Rufous Hummingbirds in the Rockies. He measured the periodicity with which they gathered pollen and nectar from 8 artificial flowers. Nectar was added to half of the flowers every 10 minutes, and to the other half every 20 minutes. Observations revealed that the hummingbirds returned to feed according to the schedule of each flower. Not bad for a brain that is 7000 times smaller than ours!
© Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke 2007. All rights reserved.
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
Credit: Andrew Hurly
© Andrew Hurly
Learning Objectives
The learner will:
- describe research projects on hummingbirds and their importance to the scientific community
