Helping Hummies:

Citizen Science to Support Our Feathered Friends

Hummingbirds

They are among the most recognizable and charismatic visitors to our backyard gardens.

With their dazzling feathers

zippy movements

and bold personalities

It is hard not to be captivated by them.

Here in Orange County, California we are lucky to share our community with hummingbirds all year long. We have two “resident” hummingbird species that live here year round, as well as several migratory species that make appearances at different times of the year.³

Migratory species in particular face difficult challenges during their long journeys. As a result, the populations of certain migratory hummingbirds, such as the Rufous Hummingbird, have been declining in recent decades.^2,17

How do scientists know what is happening with hummingbird populations?

After all, these little birds are fast and always on the move. How can researchers possibly count them all?

The answer is... You!

Scientists rely on help from citizens just like yourself, through a growing field called “citizen science.”

Through citizen science, people all over the world are collecting data about their local bird species and sharing it with researchers, who can then use this information to understand bird population trends and make decisions about when and where to intervene to help struggling species.^2,6,8

You can help support our migratory hummingbirds simply by observing birds in your community and reporting what you see!

Explore the pages on this site to learn more about hummingbirds, how citizen science is used to help birds, and how you can get involved in supporting our tiny feathered friends!