The Meadowlands Commission is pleased to host a free screening of a Bergen County Audubon Society event, the PBS documentary "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air," on Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. in the Meadowlands Environment Center auditorium.
The event will also include information on how to get involved in Audubon’s new citizen science program, Hummingbirds At Home.
In the meantime, would love to post a photo of a hummingbird taken in the Meadowlands if anyone has a good one….
More information on Thursday night's documentary follows.
While hummingbirds are the smallest warm-blooded creatures on the planet, they are also among the fastest. With wings that beat up to 200 times a second, they are among nature’s most accomplished athletes, the only birds able to hover, fly backwards, and even fly upside down.
By using cameras able to capture over 500 frames a second, the PBS Nature camera team created a wonderful documentary that is as magical as these birds themselves.
But, climate change is taking its toll on these amazing birds. As flowers bloom earlier because of warming temperatures, the impact on hummingbirds which rely on nectar could be severe.
“Every year, many hummingbird species make a remarkable journey north during springtime,” said Dr. Gary Langham, Chief Scientist for Audubon; “but will their arrival time be in sync with the blossoms?”
Dr. Langham says the new research will help Audubon focus its conservation efforts on where birds are most affected.