The Meadowlands Commission and Bergen County Audubon Society are hosting a special free screening of the documentary "Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air," tonight (May 30) at 7 p.m. in the Meadowlands Environment Center auditorium.
The screening will also include information on how to get involved in Audubon’s new citizen science program, Hummingbirds At Home.
More information on tonight's documentary follows.
The Hummingbirds at Home website and smart phone app make it easy and fun for people to keep track of the hummingbirds they see, while collecting data that will help Audubon scientists and researchers increase their understanding of these remarkable birds and of how to protect them.
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.