With hummingbird season approaching, the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service will host a program on Tuesday exploring the habits and migration of one of North America’s most recognizable backyard birds.
The educational program on the ruby-throated hummingbird is slated for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at the extension office located at 4800A New Hartford Road.
The program, titled “Discovering the Wonders of One of North America’s Most Dazzling Birds,” will feature guest speaker Cyndi Routledge, CEO and founder of Southeastern Avian Research.
Routledge will share insights on the ruby-throated hummingbird, including its physical characteristics, migratory patterns, and role in the ecosystem. The species is commonly found across eastern North America and is known for its iridescent plumage, agility, and small size.
Joyce Riney of the Green River Area Extension Master Gardener Association said the event is part of an ongoing effort to offer educational programs that bring together people interested in gardening and nature.
“We try to do a public speaking event several times throughout the year as part of our master gardener program, and we try to bring somebody that the public is interested in,” Riney said. “It’s just a program that we try to use to bring more people with an interest in gardening together.”
Riney said hummingbirds are a popular topic locally, with many residents tracking their arrival each year and setting up feeders to attract them.
“There are so many people here who kind of follow those and try to see when they’re going to be in our area to make sure they’ve got their feeders out to attract the hummingbirds,” she said. “People just enjoy having them in their yard as entertainment more than anything else.”
She added that observing hummingbirds can also provide insight into environmental changes and offers an accessible way for people of all ages to engage with nature.
“I think a lot of people, especially if they can’t get out as much, can still enjoy nature by having hummingbird feeders,” Riney said. “It’s something people find interesting, and they enjoy seeing more of them around.”
The event is sponsored by the Green River Area Extension Master Gardener Association and the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service. It is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Annette Meyer Heisdorffer, Ph.D., at 270-685-8480 or [email protected].
