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. In this presentation Carole will thrill and inspire you as she shares the adventures and insights she experienced while seeking and photographing these rare beauties. During the past year, Carole has toughed it out through some of her roughest adventures yet!  Don’t miss this one; it will not be available online after the Festival.

2:45 – 3:30pm
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. Ethan will offer some incredible insights based on his 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. He will also discuss the impacts of climate change and the effect 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.

1:30 – 2:15pm
Rich Armstrong is a dedicated master birder and “lister.” But he is also a great storyteller, and has some fun tales to share with you as he recounts his efforts to see every hummingbird species possible in the state of Arizona.  Which were the hardest to find? You might be surprised…

12:15 – 1pm
Gamini Ratnavira has been a featured artist at the Sedona Hummingbird Festival from the very beginning in 2012. For some attendees, buying a painting from Gamini each year has become a tradition, and this year we are honored that he has painted our Festival Bird, the Chilean Woodstar. His painting is featured on our 2026 Festival Shirts. In this presentation, Gamini will paint a hummingbird live on stage as he explains his technique and his personal history through wonderful stories of his unusual life. Make sure to stop by Gamini’s booth where he is selling and signing copies of his 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.

11 – 11:45am
Learn how to create a vibrant, waterwise garden that attracts and supports hummingbirds throughout the season. This talk explores how to combine nectar-rich plants, diverse blooms, and habitat-friendly practices to provide food, shelter, and essential insect life. We’ll cover plant selection, bloom succession, and simple design strategies to help transform any landscape into a thriving hummingbird haven—beautiful, resilient, and alive with motion.

4 – 4:45pm
Hummingbirds live at physiological extremes, with the fastest metabolisms of any animal for their size.  Because of this, many human-induced environmental changes such as artificial light at night, cats, novel resources, and urban heat could be affecting their behavior, energy use, and survival. Nonetheless, hummingbirds are abundant in cities across the Americas, with some evidence suggesting urbanization has even facilitated their range expansion. Valentina investigates how these extraordinary birds are adapting to cope with urbanization, and especially urban heat, in cities spanning North, Central, and South America. In this talk, she will share how body size, metabolism, diet, and coloration may be shifting in response to urbanization in Washington, Puerto Rico, and Panama, and how you can help us learn more about the birds in your city in the future.

2:45 – 3:30pm
To be announced–stay tuned!

1:30-2:15pm
Juan became fascinated with hummingbirds many years ago, and has been studying them and photographing them almost non-stop since then. He even purchased land in Ecuador which he has transformed into Los 2 Corazones Nature Reserve, focusing on hummingbirds and orchids. In this talk, Juan shares stories of the many hummingbird myths and legends developed by indigenous people of the Americas. He also explores how mankind has interacted with hummingbirds over the centuries, in both devastating and helpful ways. 

12:15 – 1pm
Tiny, speedy, and sparkling like a gem, the ruby-throated hummingbird is one of eastern North America’s most dazzling summer visitors. Cyndi Routledge, master hummingbird bander and founder of Southeastern Avian Research, will share field stories and facts about Ruby-throated Hummingbird behavior, breeding, and migration. She’ll also explain how SEAR’s new radio-tagging work hopes to track their movement and use of habitats on their breeding grounds in Tennessee and southern Kentucky.

11 – 11:45am
Hummingbirds are often admired for their extraordinary visual diversity, yet their acoustic diversity is equally remarkable and remains largely overlooked. In this talk, Katja will take you on a journey through the incredible acoustic capabilities of hummingbirds, from learned songs and high frequency vocalizations to mechanical wing trills and tail flutters. She will then give a brief overview of two acoustic projects she is working on for her Ph.D.: the dynamics of the Vervain Hummingbird’s impressively complex song in the Caribbean and the function of Broad-tailed Hummingbird calls across behavioral contexts in the Colorado Rockies.

10-10:30am FREE PRESENTATION OPEN TO ALL
Hummingbirds are a unique family found only in the Americas, and tribal cultures from the Peruvian Andes to America’s Appalachian Mountains tell tales of these winged jewels. Listen as storyteller Brian “Fox” Ellis tells the stories of how hummingbirds earned their colors, their famous race with crane, and how hummingbird added stars to the heavens. Sing along with several traditional songs. This 30-minute presentation is tailored especially for children as an opening element on Kids Day.  Admission to this talk is FREE for everyone.

2:45 – 3:30pm
As co-founder of the International Hummingbird Society, Beth will share some of its history at this momentous 30 year mark: its founding, development and its significance. Hummingbirds carry a deep symbolism across cultures. Spiritually, hummingbirds are believed to be a blessing, carrying a message of love. She will share stories in words and images of how hummingbirds have touched many lives, sometimes coming at just the right moment to bring a message of hope and healing — helping us to find beauty and meaning as we embrace life’s fleeting joys.

1:30 -2:15pm
You may have seen Adriane at our prior Festivals representing Butterfly Wonderland where she is Director of Education. A master gardener and butterfly expert, Adriane has great info and stories about butterflies and their lifecycle, gardening for butterflies, and Monarch butterflies.  You are sure to learn something new and see some beautiful images at Adriane’s talk!

12:15 – 1pm
In this engaging performance Fox portrays Charles Darwin with a mix of droll British humor, dynamic storytelling, and interactive science to celebrate the beauty of the many species of South American hummingbirds. The collection Darwin brought home inspired the fine art of John Gould that now hangs in the finest museums in the world. How do hummingbirds exemplify the principles of evolution? Darwin will share his discoveries from his amazing adventures in South America!

11 – 11:45am
Steve Vaughan has spent decades studying and capturing the remarkable speed and beauty of hummingbirds. In this program he will share practical techniques to help you do the same. We’ll explore how to work with ambient light to create natural, atmospheric images, when and how to use fill flash to balance shadows and bring out iridescent colors, and how high-speed flash can freeze wing motion to reveal details the human eye can’t see. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this presentation will give you a deeper understanding of light and timing so you can consistently document these incredible birds in dynamic and creative ways.