Every fall, millions of hummingbirds travel south, with many flocks funneling through Texas and hugging the resource-rich coast en route to warmer climes.
For birders, this makes for a bonanza of sighting opportunities. For the bird nerds who have escalated their passion from a hobby to something resembling a lifestyle, it means banding as many birds as they can before the flocks peter out.
The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory of Lake Jackson is dedicated to these birds and their associated nerds. Founded in 1997, the GCBO has been conducting research, teaching courses, organizing events, and fitting birds with uniquely numbered metal leg bands to collect data—all in service of protecting the birds and their habitats.
The organization’s headquarters is smack in the middle of coastal Texas, an important stopover for migrating hummingbirds to rest and feed before continuing on for thousands of miles. The region’s diverse geography is a benefit, according to Celeste Silling, GBCO’s outreach director. “We have the beach, wetlands, forests, grasslands,” she says. It’s good for a lot of different types of birds.”
This is never more apparent than at the annual Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza. Every September during the peak of ruby-throated hummingbird migration, the GCBO invites guests to watch up close as volunteers band birds to raise awareness and funds for the organization’s work. “They’re cute. And they’re feisty,” says Jackie Hicks, GCBO volunteer of 12 years. “Just having that in your hand, feeling the heart rate, then seeing the thing fly off—it’s pretty cool.”
Kids and grown-ups alike line up to hold hummingbirds. Each one gasps, holding their breath as a miniscule bird weighing as much as a penny sits on their palm before vanishing on blurred wings. “I’ve seen grown women cry,” Hicks says. “It’s just a miracle of nature.”
GBCO board member Ron Weeks knows that these moments can be transformative for young birders-to-be. The birds pause the vigorous pace of their lives, giving kids enough time to appreciate their gem-like, iridescent feathers. “For a child to open their hand and [the hummingbird] will sit there,” Weeks says. “That could be a spark for a kid, that could be a real special moment.”
Aside from banding, the event features a raffle, art sales, booths with small wildlife, and a sale of native plants grown in the GCBO nursery. Attendees can also symbolically adopt a hummingbird and receive updates if the bird is ever caught again.
Next year marks the GCBO’s 30th anniversary, and they plan to celebrate with a Flock Party, which will have nature-themed activities. They are also planning a fundraising auction to support their conservation initiatives.
Hicks says that one of the challenges the organization faces is that many people simply don’t know about their work or the ecological value of the region. The more they can get folks excited at events like Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza, the more they can educate the community. Plus, the petite creatures are delightful to encounter.
“I like birds in general,” Hicks says, “but it’s hard not to like a hummingbird.”
