/ Modified feb 16, 2017 5:25 p.m.

2017: The Year of the Hummingbird

Tucson Audubon Society holds a big celebration for the little bird.

Bright hummingbird Hummingbirds are known for their small sizes, bright colors, and entertaining flying abilities.
Lorrie Von

The Tucson Audubon Society is beginning a new tradition in 2017 by highlighting one type of bird for the whole year, and the group hopes that many people will participate in the festivities.

The program will include educational events, art, photography and writing contests, and outdoor opportunities to learn about the natural environment in southern Arizona.

Jennie Macfarland is a conservation biologist for the group, which came up with the idea in 2016 as a way to help increase the connection between nature and human beings.

"It’s going to be a whole year dedicated to celebrating, exploring and supporting hummingbirds," Macfarland said.

Residents are being asked to plant hummingbird-friendly gardens and to take part in "citizen science" activities such as reporting where they have noticed hummingbirds, of which there are more than a dozen species in this region.

“They’re just gorgeous birds, but they’re also very compelling," Macfarland said.

Broad-billed hummingbird The broad-billed hummingbird has a recognizable bill that changes in color from red at the base to black at the tip.
Lorrie Von

Oregon resident Terrie Von visited Tucson in January where she was taking many photos at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's hummingbird aviary.

While Von won't be in Arizona for the rest of the year, she likes the idea of focusing on this particular type of truly American bird which can be found from Alaska and Canada all the way to Argentina and Chile.

There are hundreds of species in the Americas.

"We have hummingbirds in Oregon also and one of the fascinating things is that it's winter and we have one right by our window so we're wondering how it's surviving cause it's freezing. We have a little feeder and he seems to be doing pretty well," Von said.

Tucson Audubon is spreading the message about its special program to other organizations, including the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Tucson Botanical Gardens.

The Audubon Society is planning a "Tucson Meet Your Birds" event at Sweetwater Wetlands Park beginning at 7 am on Saturday February 18.

Audubon representatives say birding and related activities contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the annual economy of Arizona.


Costa's Hummingbird A Costa's hummingbird perches on a branch.
Lorrie Von

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona