HENDERSON — On a rainy day in Henderson, the garden buzzed with more than just the sound of falling raindrops — tiny hummingbirds darted between blooms at the Hummingbird Garden in Bender Park, drawing visitors to the annual Hummingbird Hurrah.
Despite the weather, attendees gathered under umbrellas and tents, eager to learn.
The Hurrah, held each year on the third Saturday in August, celebrates one of nature’s smallest birds. In spite of the weather, visitors from the local area and beyond turn out in steady numbers every year, with estimated attendance ranging from 300 to 600, according to event organizer, Brenda Kosatek.
Attendees moved between tents, gardens and exhibits under umbrellas, learning about hummingbirds and the habitats that support them.
“I’ve just always loved the hummingbirds,” Kosatek said. “Hummingbirds are only in North America and South America. They’re really nowhere else in the world.”
A central attraction of the day was the live hummingbird banding, conducted by master bander Lori Walewski. Banding began at 9 a.m. and continued through noon, and under the cover of the banding station tent, Walewski carefully captured hummingbirds using mesh traps and then conducted detailed measurements.
Each bird was weighed, aged, sexed and fitted with an aluminum leg band. The bands, which weigh less than one percent of the bird’s body weight, are designed to help researchers track migration routes, individual life spans and population trends, Walewski said.
“Hummingbirds are such a great bird, I think because they are so accessible to so many people. You can hang a feeder in your yard, you can sit in your house and you can watch them, and it’s just great,” she said.
“And if anybody has an interest and passion for bird banding, it’s really run by citizen scientists. There’s so many people out there that do it just because it’s a love that they have.”
According to information provided at the event, hummingbirds travel nearly 2,400 miles twice a year, often returning to the same gardens and feeders. Once each banding session concluded, a randomly selected audience member was given the opportunity to hold a bird briefly before it took flight.
Beth Soberg said she makes the trip from the Twin Cities every year and was one of the lucky chosen volunteers.
“This is so cool. There are so many aspects, down to what you expect them to feel like,” Soberg said after setting the bird free. “It’s overwhelming.”
In the Hummingbird Garden experts were available throughout the day to offer tips on creating bird-attracting gardens, the importance of native species and to discuss plant propagation techniques.
This year marked a milestone for the event with the debut of the National Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Center, which opened in May. Located just a short distance from Bender Park, the center welcomed visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offered educational exhibits about hummingbird migration, anatomy, behavior and conservation. A golf cart shuttle provided transport between the garden and the center, ensuring accessibility for all attendees.
According to Kosatek, Henderson has hosted the Hummingbird Hurrah for years through the efforts of local non-profit Henderson Feathers, which promotes birding and nature education. Founded in 2008 by Dolores Hagen, the organization helps coordinate the event’s wide range of family-friendly activities.
“There’s many species of hummingbirds, but we only have the ruby-throat here,” Kosatek said. “And the ones here migrate to Mexico and South America every winter, and they come back. They come back to where they’re born. They know where home is.”
This year’s Hurrah featured educational displays, children’s activities, raffle prizes and presentations from speakers focused on hummingbird ecology and gardening techniques. Food was available throughout the day and several of Henderson’s Main Street businesses remained open during the event, giving visitors a chance to explore the community between sessions.
For more information about the Hummingbird Hurrah, the garden or the National Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Center, visit hendersonhummingbirdhurrah.com.