Did you ever head south to Mexico for winter? Well, that's exactly what hummingbirds do. Truly!  Hummingbirds head south and spend each winter in Mexico and Central America.

When Spring arrives, they head back north and that annual migration is underway. In fact, there have been tons of sightings already this year in our southern states.

According to HummingbirdCentral.com, some hummingbirds begin their migration as early as February. It's usually the males that lead the way. One big reason they migrate north to the United States? It's their breeding ground, Baby!

So, just how long does it take the hummingbirds to make that journey?  Let's put it this way. It takes a lot longer for a hummingbird to fly from Mexico to the U.S. than it does for you to hop on a plane and head south to Cancun.  According to Hummingbird Central, a hummingbird can travel as far as 23 miles per day. But they have to rely on "food supplies along the way."

Bryan Hanson/Unsplash
Bryan Hanson/Unsplash
loading...

Let's face it. Migration is a lot of work.  Research indicates that a hummingbird's heart beats up to 1260 times per minute and they will flap their wings between 15 to 80 times per second.

That's a heckuva lot calories they're burning. And, to get ready for the big journey, they will gain anywhere from 25 to 40% of their body weight to be able to make the trip north.

That trip is underway and, according to reported sightings, the hummingbirds, at least a handful of them, have already made their way into Kentucky. So far this year, there have been sightings near Paducah and Bowling Green and those numbers are going to continue to increase exponentially.

HummingbirdCentral/Google Maps
HummingbirdCentral/Google Maps
loading...

My friend Charlie Johnson has been keeping his eye on the tracker and he's ready to put out his feeders. Charlie says he usually has four hummingbirds that hang around his yard and they seem to be the same ones each year.

For more fun facts about hummingbirds and to learn more about their migration patterns and recent sightings, check out HummingbirdCentral.com.

James Wainscoat/Unsplash
James Wainscoat/Unsplash
loading...

And, if you're a fan of hummingbirds and can't wait to see them in your backyard, here are some things you can do to prepare for their arrival- just like Charlie.

 

LOOK: Stunning animal photos from around the world

From grazing Tibetan antelope to migrating monarch butterflies, these 50 photos of wildlife around the world capture the staggering grace of the animal kingdom. The forthcoming gallery runs sequentially from air to land to water, and focuses on birds, land mammals, aquatic life, and insects as they work in pairs or groups, or sometimes all on their own.

More From WDKS-FM