Fall migration continues at WRC. Nighthawks have moved on, and now warblers and hummingbirds are moving through. The first of the northern migratory sparrows are starting to move through the Metro as well.

For those who haven’t seen the nighthawk exam video yet, it’s a great look at these fascinating birds.

Many of the hummingbirds and warblers have hit windows and are either stunned or have wing fractures like this little hummingbird:

Working with these tiny birds is challenging!  If you have a stunned bird, here’s info on what to do.

And, as we move into cooler weather, hummingbirds will be moving slower in the early morning hours until they warm up and have boosted their energy by sipping nectar. If you find a grounded hummingbird early in the morning and have hummingbird feeders, set the bird on a feeder and see if it’ll drink before bringing it in to us. Oftentimes they just need to get their metabolism going (do not hand-feed the bird). Of course,  if it has an obvious injury, please bring it in immediately.

Keep your hummingbird feeders full until mid-October: the birds from Canada are just moving southward and your full feeders won’t keep the birds from migrating.