HOUSTON — Millions of hummingbirds are expected to pass through Texas during their annual fall migration, with a Gulf Coast observatory preparing to welcome visitors who want to see and help researchers track the tiny birds.
The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (GCBO) will host its annual Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza on Sept. 12 and Sept. 19 in Lake Jackson, about an hour south of Houston.
The event will allow visitors to observe hummingbirds up close and watch trained handlers capture and band the birds as part of a migration research program.
Researchers place a small metal identification band on each bird’s leg and record information such as its weight, wing length and bill size. The data helps researchers track the birds and study their migration and health.
Lake Jackson sits along the Texas Gulf Coast, where migrating hummingbirds stop to rest and feed before continuing their journey south. Some birds travel more than 1,000 miles during the migration.
GCBO volunteer Jackie Hicks said the experience of holding a hummingbird briefly can give visitors a closer look at the birds.
“They’re cute. And they’re feisty,” Hicks said. “Just having that in your hand, feeling the heart rate, then seeing the thing fly off—it’s pretty cool.”
The fall migration also gives birdwatchers across Texas an opportunity to spot hummingbirds as they move through the state.
The birds typically remain in Texas through September before continuing south to Mexico and Central America, where they spend the winter.
Tickets for the Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza cost $5 for adults, while children can attend for free.