Hummingbird Presentations

4 – 4:45pm
Carole Turek is on a quest to photograph all hummingbird species that exist today. In pursuit of that challenging goal, she has encountered endangered and critically endangered hummingbirds — some have populations numbering fewer than 50 individuals. During this presentation, Carole will thrill and inspire you as she shares the adventures and insights she experienced while seeking and photographing these rare beauties.

2:45 – 3:30pm
Stan Tekiela has made it his life’s mission to share the beauty and science of the natural world with as many people as he can reach. Having authored and illustated more than 200 nature guides, Stan is intimately familiar with the flora and fauna of North America. Among his very favorite subjects is hummingbirds, and in this talk Stan will take a fun and entertaining look inside their unique world. He will talk about how hummingbirds feed, catch insects, mate, migrate and so much more. Stan traveled all over the US to study and capture the many dazzling images of hummingbirds he will share in this presentation.

1:30 – 2:15pm
Of the nearly 370 hummingbird species that exist today, fewer than 20 can be found in the U.S. Twenty gorgeous, entertaining, sometimes surprisingly elusive species. Come hear master birder Rich Armstrong recount humorous stories of his adventures pursuing his “Hummingbirds in the U.S.” life list. From Texas to Arizona to the West Coast, from yards to mountains to special places to chases, Rich reports it has been frustrating and exciting to document sightings of 19 1/2 species. How can it be 19 1/2? You’ll have to come hear Rich’s talk to find out!

11 – 11:45am
Monarch butterflies are probably the most recognized butterfly species in the United States, due mostly to their approximately 3000-mile migration to central Mexico each fall. Each year, as the Monarchs return to Mexico, they bring with them an enduring cultural myth. Aside from this myth, Monarchs are fascinating creatures! Join Becky Hardy to learn more about Monarch butterflies, their behavior and the most incredible insect migration.

4 – 4:45pm
In this presentation, Nancy Windheart will share what she has learned from hummingbirds in her decades-long work as an interspecies communicator and teacher. She will give a brief overview of interspecies communication and how it can be helpful in understanding the perspectives of other-than-human beings, including hummingbirds. Then she will share some of the unique perspectives of hummingbirds on their lives, their consciousness and awareness, including their perspective on humans and the impacts of climate change on the health of their populations and the Earth.

1:30 – 2:15pm
Wildflowers color our lives. Professional naturalist and award-winning photographer Stan Tekiela will present the fascinating world of wildflowers in a way that will deepen your knowledge and appreciation for wildflowers and their role in the lifecycle of so many insects, birds, and mammals.

11 – 11:45am
Maria Hedrick started adventuring to see hummingbirds in the early ’90s, and she has been at it ever since, traveling to nearly every country in Central America, five countries in South America, and the Bahamas and Carribean. She intentionally does not bring a camera, preferring to fully drink in each hummingbird encounter. Now having experienced the thrill of seeing more than 200 species of hummingbird, Maria will talk about her “top 25” hummingbirds, why she is addicted to chasing hummingbirds, her memorable experiences in Cuba, and other adventures along the way.

9:45 – 10:30am
In this talk, Lisa Langell will share her insights on how to take a great hummingbird photo. Sounds simple, and many of the concepts are tried and true. But hummingbird photography is particularly challenging because the subjects are so tiny and fast-moving, and they certainly have no interest in making things easier for a photographer. Whether you are a beginner or advanced photographer, you will leave this talk with inspiration and new ideas for taking your imagery to the next level.

9:30 -9:45am
We open Saturday’s presentations with the gift of a youth performance dedicated to hummingbirds. Members of the Sedona Dance Academy will perform “Dance of the Hummingbirds.” This beautiful dance represents the heart and all its flurry as it goes through the day, like a hummingbird. What a great way to start the day!

2:45 – 3:30pm
David Attenborough speaks of hummingbirds as the messengers of plants, carrying the pollen from flower to flower to help them thrive. Beth Kingsley Hawkins will address, in word and image, how they can also be messengers for us — often coming at just the right moment in our lives to bring us meaning, helping us to thrive. She will share images of some special hummingbird nests she has photographed and also tell us of some surprising new information on hummingbird behavior. In addition, she will speak to the mystical, mythical, spiritual dimension, sharing amazing stories of how hummingbirds can connect us to our loved ones in Spirit to help us understand that love never dies.

1:30 – 2:15pm
After banding hundreds of hummingbirds of seven species (and one hybrid) over the 10 Sedona Hummingbird Festivals, Steve Bouricius will share what he and his team have learned about Sedona’s hummingbirds — and what questions they continue to pursue.

11 – 11:45am
The Purple-throated Carib is a spectacular hummingbird native to the mountain rainforests and cloud forests of the Lesser Antilles. It is one of the largest hummingbirds in the world and is unusual for its extreme sexual dimorphism: although sexes are similar in plumage, males are 25% larger than females yet females have bills that are 20% longer and 40% more curved than bills of males. Here I review 20 years of research on the biology of these birds and their highly specialized relationship to two native plants that serve as their primary food source and the basis for their mating system. I then discuss the impacts of Hurricane Maria, a category 5 hurricane with 165 mph winds, that struck the island of Dominica on 19 September 2017, on the biology of these birds and their potential for recovery.

9:45 – 10:30am
This talk is a special not-to-be-missed treat from artist Gamini Ratnavira. It grew out of his presentation at the 2023 Sedona Hummingbird Festival: Gamini painted a hummingbird live onstage while casually sharing spellbinding stories of wildlife he has encountered over the course of his life. Now at our request, Gamini has created this talk, complete with his own illustrations, about some of his most vivid wildlife memories. Make sure to stop by Gamini’s booth where he is selling and signing copies of his brand-new book “Hummingbirds: A Celebration of their Beauty through Art.” This book features paintings of 365 species of hummingbird, each one infused with the signature magic only Gamini can bring to a painting.