Cook County Bird Of The Month: The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird!

Throughout 2016, the Forest Preserves of Cook County invites visitors to see some of the most interesting native and migrating birds in the Preserves.

Each month during the Forest Preserves' 2016 Bird the Preserves initiative, a new bird will be highlighted. Visitors will have the opportunity to spot the bird of the month at an event or program, and learn what makes that bird so special. The August Bird of the Month is the ruby-throated hummingbird.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are masters of flight. They can beat their wings dozens of times per second, creating a humming noise. Other fascinating features:

• Fine-tuned flying: These birds can instantly accelerate to full speed, then quickly stop and hover in place while adjusting their position in any direction.
• Food fights: Males fiercely defend food sources and battle intruders in mid-air, often resulting in epic hovering fights with other hummingbirds - or less epic clashes with bumblebees.
• Incredible journey: Most ruby-throated hummingbirds spend winter in Central America. During migration, some will cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight (the shortest route across is 500 miles).

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Migration Map:

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Watch A Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Feed:

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To see the August Bird of the Month, check out this events:

Hummingbird Sit
Saturday, Aug. 6 - 10 a.m.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W 111th St, Lemont

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Hummer Watch
Thursday, Aug. 11 - 5 p.m.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W 111th St, Lemont

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Hummingbird Sit
Saturday, Aug. 13 - 10 a.m.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W 111th St, Lemont

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Hummingbird Sit
Sunday, Aug. 14 - 10 a.m.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W 111th St, Lemont

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Hummingbird Fest
Saturday, Aug. 20 - 9 a.m.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W 111th St, Lemont

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Hummingbird Sit
Sunday, Aug. 21 - 10 a.m.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W 111th St, Lemont

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Bird of the Month: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Sunday, Aug. 21 - 1 p.m.
Trailside Museum of Natural History, 738 Thatcher Ave, River Forest

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Hummingbird Theater
Saturday, Aug. 27 - 1 p.m.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W 111th St, Lemont

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Hummingbird Sit
Sunday, Aug. 28 - 10 a.m.
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, 12545 W 111th St, Lemont

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In addition to learning about the featured Bird of the Month and enjoying birding programs and events, birders of all skill levels can explore the preserves with teams competing in the Forest Preserves' Big Year birding competition.

During the Big Year competition, the preserves compete instead of the people. Participants will visit their team's preserve and log all bird sightings in eBird, an online birding checklist program. All are welcome to join these searches and binoculars will be available for loan.

The competition runs from March 1 to December 31, and is a great way to challenge yourself and explore a local preserve, make new friends and experience what birding is all about.

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Previously:
* Experience Birding In The Cook County Forest Preserves!

* Cook County Bird Of The Month: The Timberdoodle.

* Cook County Bird Of The Month: The Wood Duck!

* Cook County Bird Of The Month: The Baltimore Oriole!

* Cook County Bird Of The Month: The Great Egret!

* Cook County Bird Of The Month: The Osprey!

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