Although it is the smallest bird in North America, the Calliope hummingbird will migrate over 5,000 miles across the continent every year. Hummingbird metabolism is so fast that hummingbirds can die of starvation within eight hours. They consume up to 12,000 calories per day for a  body that weighs about as much as a nickel and is powered by a heart that beats anywhere from eight to 20 times a second.

Hilary Joy Morejon, the director of marketing for the International Hummingbird Society, attempted to convey the hummingbird’s feeling of being on the move during her “Hummingbird 101” talks at the Sedona Public Library branches in Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek on Tuesday, July 18.

Morejon covered conservation efforts, the intricacies of hummingbird anatomy, the diversity of species in the Verde Valley, hummingbird garden construction and how to feed hummingbirds safely.

“[Hummingbirds] are only found in the Americas,” Morejon said. “So we are some of the luckiest people on earth, and there are over 360 different species.”

Morejon was also promoting the 2023 Sedona Hummingbird Festival, which will take place at the Sedona Performing Arts Center from Friday, July 28, through Sunday, July 30. 

“The Sedona Hummingbird Festival is next weekend, and you can experience hummingbird banding like I did in 2019,” Morejon said, reminiscing about what inspired her to join the organization. “You can have that moment with your friend or your loved one where you let [a hummingbird] go together and it changes your life.”

 Morejon has always had a love for birds but discovered a deeper appreciation for them after moving to Peoria, Arizona, and seeing the diversity of hummingbird colors on display there. Once she learned that people can hand-feed hummingbirds when they develop a relationship with them, she was hooked. 

Morejon explained that teaching about hummingbirds and working to protect them is IHS’s mission.

“We partnered with American Bird Conservancy in protecting [the] marvelous spatuletail [hummingbird] … it’s in northern Peru,” Morejon said. “It has four tail feathers … what they do when they are going to attract a female is they whip those up, and they hypnotize her and give her all swoons.”

Since 2007, the American Bird Conservancy has restored 2,000 acres of hummingbird habitat by planting over 1.3 million trees in the Amazonian region of northern Peru. This year, they unveiled a three-year plan to build a 30-acre coffee farm on a 30-acre plot in Cuispes, Peru, to promote sustainability, birding tourism and access to the nearby Yumbilla Falls, which is the world’s fifth tallest waterfall at 2,938 feet.

IHS is seeking additional funding for the $300,000 project. So far, it has raised 60% of its capital through other organizations such as BirdLife.

However, it isn’t necessary to leave the Verde Valley to see an amazing avian display. Hummingbird feeders are graciously allowed by the city of Sedona and are affordable, although they do require regular maintenance.

To make sugar water to feed hummingbirds, dissolve one cup of white granulated sugar in three or four cups of water. Do not use red food dye or any other kind of sweetener. Unused sugar water may be safely refrigerated for up to one week.

Morejon recommended against using organic sugar because it contains iron that hummingbirds can’t process and causes internal organ problems. As the sugar water will ferment, it must be changed frequently. When the daytime temperature exceeds 93 degrees Fahrenheit it should be changed daily, or once every few days when temperatures are lower.

“You have to clean it every time and then refill it,” Morejon said. “You can use one part vinegar to two parts water. I like vinegar the best. You could use bleach [or] hydrogen peroxide. I think vinegar is more natural, it’s just safer for them.”

Morejon observed that a group of hummingbirds can be called a glimmering, a bouquet, a shimmer or even a charming. For Sedona residents who want to join a bouquet of fellow hummingbird enthusiasts, there’s always the Hummingbird Festival.

The event schedule can be found at hummingbirdsociety.org. Questions may also be directed to (928) 284-2251 or info@hummingbirdsociety.org.