Hummingbird being released after banding. Often they sit quietly in a hand before flying off.

This year the annual hummingbird banding event was all the buzz in Elsah as both Sally Horbelt and Kathy Baird hosted this special family-oriented event on July 13th. Sally reported 19 new bandings and 15 birds recaptured.  Kathy reported 49 birds captured and 41 new bandings. For those of you who haven’t attended this event, it is both engaging and fascinating. Only a handful of expert hummingbird ornithologists in the world are certified to do the actual banding with tiny micro tools and the touch of a neurosurgeon. It’s an amazing thing to witness, and fun for the kids as they can engage gently with the birds while assisting their post-banding fly-away back to nature. It’s beautiful, spiritual, and makes for a fun and educational day.