Natural History Wanderings

Celebrate the annual migration of hummingbirds at Weldon in the Kern River Valleyon August 10, 2013. You’ll see the three common species including Anna’s, Black-chinned, and Rufous, and a few Allen’s, Costa’s, and Calliope. Even an occasional vagrant Broad-billed or Broad-tailed have been spotted.

The all day celebration includes a variety of workshops and nature walks through the Kern River Preserve. You’ll learn about hummingbird feeder maintenance and the recipe for hummingbird food. Take a Nature Walk through the Headquarters Area of the Kern River Preserve and learn about hummingbirds, butterflies and dragonflies and other animals that can be seen around the preserve. You’ll also learn how to tell our local hummingbirds apart and how to build a garden with plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Under average weather conditions Hummingbird numbers increase steadily at the Kern River Preserve hummingbird feeders from June until late-August.

Black-chinned Hummingbird numbers decline throughout August. Allen’s and Rufous numbers generally peak the third week of August.

Six hummingbird species are possible at the Kern River Preserve feeders in July, August, & early September with over one thousand hummingbirds present some days: Black-chinned (numbers decrease from July through early September), Anna’s, Costa’s (low numbers), Calliope (rarely), Rufous (peak numbers in late August & early September), and Allen’s (virtually impossible to separate from Rufous, even adult males, except during banding sessions).

Costa’s and Calliope are more numerous at feeders in the desert (Costa’s) and montane (Calliope) regions of the Kern River Valley watershed. Allen’s pass through in small numbers the latter third of June through the middle of August. The Kern River Valley has less than five records each of Broad-billed and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.

Admission: Free, although a $10 donation is appreciated to help defray the cost of feeding the birds at the Kern River Preserve.

For more information go to:  Kern River Valley Hummingbird Celebration – Sierra Nevada Geotourism MapGuide.