See hummingbirds up close at Utah DWR banding event this August

VERNAL, Utah ( ABC4 ) — If you’re a fan of hummingbirds, you may want to attend an event the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting for a chance to see these tiny flyers up close.

DWR is partnering with retired Bureau of Land Management Biologist Terry Tolbert and U.S. Forest Service Biologist Lisa Young to hold a free hummingbird banding demonstration on Saturday, August 3, from 7-11 a.m. It will be at the Red Canyon Lodge at 2450 Red Canyon Road in Dutch John.

Although the event is free, you’re encouraged to sign up ahead of time on Eventbrite .

At the event, researchers will capture hummingbirds to place a small band on one of their legs. The bands are stamped with a unique number to identify each bird throughout its lifetime, gathering information to help biologists learn more about the birds’ migration patterns and other crucial data.

DWR biologists and staff will be at the event to explain the bird-banding process and to answer questions about hummingbirds during the event. Participants are encouraged to bring a camera to take pictures of hummingbirds.

“It’s a rare and unique opportunity to see Utah’s tiniest pollinating birds in hand, while watching biologists gather baseline data to determine strategies for conserving these birds, their habitat and future research needs,” DWR Northeastern Region Outreach Manager Tonya Kieffer-Selby said in a press release about the event. “The population status of many hummingbird species is unknown. These banding efforts help educate our local community, and also help us collect information that may be crucial for making future conservation and management decisions.”

Attendees can also visit the Red Canyon Visitor Center , which is close to the event location, to view other species of birds in the area, or even possibly spot bighorn sheep that live near the Red Canyon Overlook.

According to DWR’s press release, over the last three years, biologists have banded over 200 hummingbirds, including four different species, at this event.

“At this location, we’re hoping to see and band rufous hummingbirds, which typically migrate through Utah in July as they travel from Canada and Alaska,” Kieffer-Selby said. “Rufous hummingbirds are a bright copper/orange color and are often found at these higher elevations, aggressively fighting over nectar resources, like Indian paintbrush and other local flowers. We’ll likely capture some broad-tailed and black-chinned hummingbirds during the event, too.”

DWR said that people usually see five different species of hummingbird in Utah — black-chinned, broad-tailed, calliope, rufous, and Costas. Out of these, the most common to see are the broad-tailed and black-chinned hummingbirds, but you may also be lucky enough to spot the callipe hummingbirds, which are known as the smaller birds native to North America.

How to attract and feed hummingbirds near you

DWR said that most hummingbirds migrate to warmer climates during cold winter months and return north in the summer, many traveling thousands of miles in a single year as part of their annual migration cycle.

According to DWR, hummingbirds primarily feed on nectar, so planting native plants like penstemon and bergamot, is a great way to attract them to your yard. The agastache plant, known as hummingbird mint, is another popular choice you can find in most local nurseries.

DWR explained that hummingbirds are highly attracted to the color red as many red flowers produce the most and “tastiest” sugary nectar, but it can also lead to confusion for the birds, causing them to get trapped in areas like garages, where they can get disoriented and sometimes die without intervention.

“This unfortunately happens from time to time,” Kieffer-Selby said. “If you find a hummingbird in your garage, the best thing to do is to offer it a feeder by hanging one near the ceiling, and try not to stress the bird out. Sometimes, they will fly out at dusk if the garage door is open, but if they don’t, you can always call your nearest DWR office for assistance in removing the bird.”

DWR said that hummingbirds also eat small insects and spiders, so it’s best to be aware of the chemicals you may spray around your nectar sources to not hurt the birds. They also recommended a water and sugar mix for hummingbird feeders if you decide to have one at your home.

“Many stores sell a premade ‘red-dye’ feed, but be aware that may not be the healthiest option for these birds,” Kieffer-Selby said. “A simple 4-to-1 water and sugar solution in a traditional red-colored hummingbird feeder is often the more cost-effective and safe way to feed them and is better for the hummingbirds, overall.”

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