Wanna Hold a Hummer?

First posted on 07-21-2008

Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations at Onondaga Cave State Park are Aug. 2 and Sept. 6

Take advantage of a unique opportunity to get an up-close look at the ruby-throated hummingbird. You will have two opportunities this summer to join researcher Lanny Chambers at Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg as he captures and studies these fascinating little flying machines. On Aug. 2 and Sept. 6, learn about these hummingbirds as Chambers researches and bands them between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, these demonstrations will take place at the park’s visitor center. They are free and open to the public.

Chambers has been working on a project to track the movement patterns of hummingbirds in Missouri. He safely captures the birds at the park’s feeders, weighs them, ages them, identifies the gender of each bird and then tags them. Visitors will learn some general life history information about the ruby-throated hummingbird, which is Missouri’s only summer resident hummer. Cameras are welcome; however, guests will be instructed to keep an adequate distance from the birds and researchers to ensure the safety of the birds.

Onondaga Cave State Park is located seven miles south of the Leasburg exit off of Interstate 44 on Highway H. For more information about these events, contact the park at 573-245-6576 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at http://www.mostateparks.com.