Hummingbirds

Research

Responses to Smoke

Our newest citizen science research project looks at how hummingbirds respond to wildfire smoke. We hope to learn how and when feeders are used by measuring nectar consumption under conditions of differing air quality.

Photo: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=90695

Population Trends

All our neotropical migrants have declining populations. The Rufous Hummingbird population's decline is most pronounced. Data from monitoring was used in research looking at population trends, survivorship and recruitment.

Hummingbirds are particularly well suited for long term analysis because they show extreme site fidelity. This means we will often see the same individuals year after year, as they breed, winter, and migrate using known resource sites.

RUHU male flying — Male Rufuous Hummingbird

Cloacal fluid - Jen Neve — Cloacal Fluid (Photo: Jen Neve)

Pesticide Exposure

In collaboration with Environment Canada, we were the first to show environmental exposure of hummingbirds to agricultural pesticides, specifically the neonicotinoids and butenolides.

Hummingbirds sample their environment widely. They come into contact with these pesticides by drinking nectar from flowers and eating insects that are on plants or emerging from water bodies. We tested the urine collected during banding near blueberry fields. Click here to see a short video explaining our early pesticide exposure work. We have also used hummingbird urine to look at exposure to pesticides in different areas of the province and how these exposures change in response to new products and regulations.

In the photo, you can see a drop of urine, in the bottom of the tube. This was produced as measurements were being taken. Waste (urine and faeces) collection is used to determine pesticide exposure and diet.

Diet

We have used waste analysis (shared freely by the birds) to achieve some significant ‘firsts’. Our non-invasive analysis of nestling diet was the first time DNA in hummingbird faecal material was used to see what female hummingbirds were providing to their chicks.

Can you see the waste pellets?

Nestlings shoot waste out of the nest. It ends up decorating the sides of the nest and any nearby fronds. These pellets were collected for analysis once the nestlings had fledged and left the nest.