Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the focus of the HummerBird Celebration, along with all migrating and resident birds found in the greater Rockport-Fulton area (photo by Juan Bahamon).
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Celebrate Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and all fall migrants at the 31st HummerBird Celebration in the sister cities of Rockport and Fulton, Texas, Thursday through Sunday September 19 to 22. The array of activities include guided bus trips to see concentrations of hummingbirds, birding trips that include boat and nature tours, photography instruction, guided field trips, lectures from renowned speakers, a variety of workshops, outdoor exhibits, two Hummer Malls filled with vendors marketing nature-related products, and a Texas barbecue with featured speakers.
Since its inception in 1988, the HummerBird Celebration has continuously added new and exciting activities to this nationally acclaimed event. Some of the many popular activities throughout the weekend include periodic hummingbird banding demonstrations presented by master bander Sumita Prasad, who has been banding and recording valuable information about hummingbirds for nearly 20 years. Three bird photography workshops feature expert photographers. A special opportunity includes visits to a number of Hummer Homes that will be open up to the public during specific hours for attendees to view Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at host’s backyard feeding stations and flower gardens.
One of the most popular birding festivals in America, the HummerBird Celebration features the spectacular fall migration of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds as make a feeding stopover in the Rockport-Fulton area on their way south to their wintering range in Mexico and beyond. The hummingbirds pause in the area each fall to prepare for the most arduous leg of their migration, when they fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico, an incredible flight of more than 800 miles. While in the area, the hummers eat enough to increase their body fat by up to 50 percent
to fuel their continued migration. While in the area, the concentrations of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds attract birders from far and wide to experience this impressive natural event.
This 31st HummerBird Celebration showcases the Rockport-Fulton community’s commitment to birding with a tribute to Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and all migrant and resident birds of the area. To purchase tickets, volunteer, or find out more information about activities and events, please visit www.rockporthummingbird.com
Rockport-Fulton HummerBird Celebration Hummingbird,