The BBL was established in 1920 and is an integrated scientific program that collects, curates, and shares data from banded birds. Hummingbird banding began in the United States in earnest in 1923, when a bander in New Hampshire took the smallest sized aluminum bird band and trimmed it to fit a female ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). Since then, approximately one million hummingbirds have been banded, with ruby-throated hummingbirds accounting for nearly half of those records. 

The USGS BBL issues permits to all banders. Those wishing to band hummingbirds are required to complete specialized training due to the unique characteristics of this species. When proper techniques and equipment are used, bird banding is a safe practice, carried out by trained professionals. First and foremost, all banders are wholly committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of the birds they band, and their techniques and equipment guarantee the safe banding of hummingbirds. Hummingbird banders form, shape, and custom fit a tiny aluminum band for each individual hummingbird to ensure they receive the lightest, best fitting band possible. 

Bird banding is an important research tool that has afforded us a better understanding of many aspects of bird biology, and it gives us the means to more effectively and efficiently manage and conserve thriving bird populations. By identifying individual birds, researchers can study dispersal and migration patterns, behavior and social structures, lifespan and survival rates, reproductive success, and population growth. 

Bird banding studies have revealed that ruby-throated hummingbirds follow similar migration routes every year. Flowering gardens may be especially important for fueling ruby throated hummingbird migrations, during which some individuals will fly more than 500 miles across the Gulf of America in a nonstop 18-hour journey. Banding has shown that hummingbirds often return to the exact same yards and gardens each summer to find a mate, nest and raise their young, contributing valuable data to annual breeding bird surveys. 

It is during summer that the other USGS bird monitoring program, the BBS, counts hummingbirds and other bird species across the continent to understand how their populations change over time. The BBS began in 1966 and has become the primary source of long-term, large-scale population trends for more than 500 of North America’s breeding bird species. The program is jointly coordinated by staff from the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center and the Canadian Wildlife Service.  

The BBS provides the definitive history of bird population change over the last 60 years. This impressive feat is possible only because of the dedication of thousands of volunteers who conduct surveys across the U.S., Canada, and Northern Mexico each year. These community scientists are highly skilled — able to identify all birds in their area by sound alone, which is about 250 species for most areas! 

 
BBS surveys are highly standardized and occur in predetermined locations. They are sampled once per year at the height of the breeding season. Observers submit their data to the national BBS office, which then vets and collates the data before releasing it freely to the public via an online database, where it can be downloaded and used by others for a variety of purposes. Over 800 scientific publications have used the BBS as the primary source of data to answer myriad questions ranging from disease spread, to invasive species, to climate change. 

A recent publication by researchers at Environment and Climate Change Canada used BBS data to conclude that hummingbirds in North America are experiencing population changes that vary by species. For example, the migratory rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) and broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) have declined since the BBS began, with sharper decline in recent years. Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna), a non-migratory species, shows a contrasting trend: a dramatic population increase that has accelerated in the last decade. 

Seeing a hummingbird in your garden can be an exhilarating and special experience. There are simple steps you can take to attract hummingbirds to your yard and reduce risk from potential hazards.  

Adding native nectar plants in your garden is one way to entice hummingbirds and other pollinators. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a list of native plants to help you identify the native nectar plants in your area. Tube flowers, bright colors, and flowers that bloom throughout the season can make your yard beautiful and a haven for wildlife.  

Hummingbird feeders are another way to attract hummingbirds. Feeders with bright red flowers are of most interest to hummingbirds. The age-old recommendation is to fill feeders using a clear solution of one part sugar to four parts water. Feeders are best placed in a nice shady spot and are most safe for birds when cleaned regularly.  

Hummingbirds love to take baths, and they use shallow, moving water to help keep their feathers clean. Providing a shallow water feature can be a great way to see this behavior in action. 

Certain hazards can deter hummingbirds from visiting your yard. Keeping pets, such as cats, indoors when possible and hanging feeders at least five feet off the ground will help keep hummingbirds safe from potential predators. If your feeders are near windows, you can reduce the risk of collisions by making windows more visible to birds using special safety film or other deterrent materials. 

Interested in getting up-close and personal with hummingbirds? The International Hummingbird Society hosts an annual festival each summer in Sedona, AZ. Visit this link for more details.