National Hummingbird Day is annually celebrated in the United States on every first Saturday of September and this year it falls on 3rd of September.
This is a day which celebrates and honors the world's smallest bird species called as hummingbirds. This tiny but fast and small but aggressive bird species is very unique and special along the bird species.
It is also a day which aims to increase awareness and educate the masses about this incredible bird species. And this day also encourages the people to go for a bird-watching as a way to admire beautiful creatures like hummingbirds.
| Event | National Hummingbird Day |
|---|---|
| Date | September 3, 2022 |
| Day | Saturday |
| Significance | The world's tiniest bird species are honored and celebrated on this day |
| Observed by | United States |
National Hummingbird Day History:
Sadly the historical evolution of hummingbirds still hasn't been traced by the scientific research but we hope that we learn more about its evolution in future. But one thing is sure that these birds have existed for millions of years. And because of their small size and structure it would have been very hard for their survival but they managed to survive it shows that they are very good survivors and fighters.
For the first time in modern history they were sighted by a French explorer called Jean de Lery at Brazil in 1557. And we know it because he was the first one who described this bird in his publication for the first. So many people earlier him noted the bird species.
After this the hummingbirds started to gain popularity among the settlers in the New World of the Americas. And the exhibition of these birds outside the Americas for the first time took place as a part of Royal Exhibition in 1851 during which about 300 hummingbirds species were exhibited in the Crystal Palace at London.
As these are the migratory birds so The Migratory Bird Treaty Act which was passed in 1918 in the US prohibited the domestication of hummingbirds along with other migratory birds.
National Hummingbird Day Significance:
Hummingbirds are the smallest bird in the world and they are migratory birds so they travels long distances during their migration period and they are only found in the Americas including all North, Central and South America.
Hummingbirds are one of the most beautiful and precious bird species found in our world. And they have many character traits too which makes them special among other birds species and there are that although they are tiny but are actually very fast in flying and they have the ability to hover rapidly in the mid-air by flapping their wings and while doing so they makes a humming sound and that's why they are called humming birds.
Another trait that they have is that they can be very aggressive as well. As they are territorial in nature and their aggression is intensified when their feeding areas are violated by other birds or any other creatures including us.
Although the hummingbirds have survived for a long despite all the odds but it will be no longer if we continue our activities like this only then they might get extinct as well. Like any other animal or bird species they are also in threat of going extinct. Although they are not endangered yet but keeping precaution is better to ensure their survival.
And along with it this day also encourages people to go for bird-watching and explore this majestic hummingbirds and other birds as well.
National Hummingbird Day Facts:
Now let's take a look at some of the most interesting facts about this incredible bird species called hummingbirds:
- They are the only birds which has the ability to fly backwards.
- A lone wolf is actually more suited for hummingbirds as they travel alone during migration unlike other species who migrates in flocks.
- A baby hummingbird is roughly of the same size as penny and it can not fly.
- Hummingbirds see in the ultraviolet light so their vision is further than human.
- Hummingbirds have no sense of smell but can hear better than humans.
Most Searched FAQs on National Hummingbird Day:
1. When is National Hummingbird Day is celebrated?
National Hummingbird Day is annually celebrated on every first Saturday of September in US.
2. What is the lifespan of a hummingbird?
Hummingbird lives for about three to nine years.
3. What do hummingbirds eat?
Hummingbirds generally eaten all types of small insects along with flowers, seeds and other related items.