You can watch the program at the attached link.

They also just aired a great special on hummingbirds. Also available to watch on the pbs.org site.

Just like you Moboston, I would love to see their arrival. The footage was amazing!
Kim

Here is a link that might be useful: PBS- Incredible Journey of Butterflies

Yes, I saw the one on hummers as well. In fact, I have two hummers, maybe more, in my yard now. A gal from SC is coming down to band them this week as part of a research program to see if their migrating patterns are changing.

Yes, I saw the one on hummers as well. In fact, I have two hummers, maybe more, in my yard now. A gal from SC is coming down to band them this week as part of a research program to see if their migrating patterns are changing.

Don't know why my posts are entered twice with so much time between. Its happened on two different posts now. Sorry!

It was lovely. I purchased the DVD after it aired the first time. :)

I loved the program on the Monarch Migration and also the one on the hummingbirds.

How in the heck do they catch thonse hummingbirds to band them?

Also saw the article on Journey North about the small number of Monarchs that survived the migration to Mexico. A lot of it has to do with the illegal logging operations which have infiltrated major roosting sites and caused serious decline in the population. Hate to see this happen.

Susan

They have a wire cage that is set on a platform eye level high. The feeder that is used most by the bird they are trying to catch is placed inside the cage near where the feeder would hang. The door to the cage is tripped by a line of fishing line when the bird flies in. Then they catch the bird and place it in a mesh bag. It is weighed, tail, beak, and wing measurements taken as well as the sex and weight. A dot of pink paint(some type) is put on the head so that if the bird returns in the cage (and some do) then they know it has been caught already and it is just allowed to feed and leave. Then it is banded and released. Doesn't take long at all and is amazing to watch. I had one banded in Jan. and another bander is coming today to try to band the 4 I have now in my yard. One is suspected to be a Rufous and the others are Ruby-throated. We have another lady in town who has a half dozen in her yard and a guy with about the same. A friend of mine has a Rufous and another guy in a town about a half hour away had over a dozen banded in Jan and another half dozen now that are not banded.

The banders are trying to determine if the migrating path has come further south than once and if we in Central Florida are now getting resident year round birds.

Really interesting stuff and fills the void for us who don't have them in the summer when the butterflies are around.