Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations

Hummingbird banding is a research effort designed to track and monitor the health and movement of hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are carefully caught and fitted with a uniquely numbered band around the leg. The band is very light and tiny, weighing about six ten-thousandths of a gram! The birds are also physically examined, measured, and released unharmed.

The data collected is submitted to the US Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. This data is a permanent record available to other researchers. Whenever a bird is re-encountered it can provide researchers information about population trends, local movements, migration, and longevity.
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​Our dedicated hummingbird banding site hosts provide an array of hummingbird nectar plants and feeders to attract hundreds of hummingbirds daily. Thus, the banding demonstrations provide a wonderful opportunity to see an abundance of hummingbirds up close as they are assessed by the banders, and as they are flying free at the banding site. You may see hummingbirds catching insects, feeding from flowers and then jockeying for space at feeders, all in a matter of moments. Hummingbirds at the site will most likely include Anna’s, Black-chinned, Rufous, and a few Broad-tailed and Calliope Hummingbirds. More rare species such as Costa’s, Rivoli’s and Broad-billed Hummingbirds might also be seen.

Important notes:  Restrooms are not available at the banding sites. Please plan accordingly!  Friday’s banding location is not handicap-accessible, but the Saturday-Sunday location is.

Be sure to get tickets for our Sunday July 28 presentations. At 11am master bander Kate McLaughlin will present new discoveries coming out of her banding project in Alaska.  At 1:30 lead bander Steve Bouricius will give a talk on what his team has learned over the 10 years they have been doing this research at the Sedona Hummingbird Festival.