Nevada Important Bird Area Program's Operation Hummingbird

The Nevada Important Bird Areas Program is embarking on a new, exciting program in 2012 focused on pollinator and conservation of their habitats within Nevada. Currently, three of the five species of hummingbirds in Nevada are considered “species of conservation priority” due to declining populations, declining habitat values, and/or lack of information or data on Nevada's hummingbirds in general.

Operation Hummingbird will be focusing on generating pollinator and habitat awareness and building a citizen science-based program centered on monitoring hummingbird feeders in urban and rural areas throughout Nevada, particularly near or within an Important Bird Area. Operation Hummingbird will involve a media campaign and distribution of informational materials to motivate the general public to monitor their hummingbird feeders and report their sightings (through e-Bird) during the spring and summer. All reported data will be gathered, analyzed, and added to the Nevada bird database.

Operation Hummingbird will be developed as an annually occurring event aimed to increase our knowledge of hummingbird migrations and habitat uses, promote pollinator habitats and gardens, and identify conservation actions/projects to maintain or increase hummingbird populations within Nevada.