Annual Hummingbird Banding Event

Springville, Tenn. - The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge will celebrate its Annual Hummingbird Banding Event on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, from 8 am to 12 pm.  The day consists of a free hummingbird banding demonstration, educational documentaries about hummingbirds, children’s arts and crafts and free entry to the Refuge Visitor Center located at 1371 Wildlife Drive in Springville, TN.

Hummingbirds have long been a beloved part of summertime in the South. These quick, brightly colored birds inspire many to put up sugar water feeders or plant red flowers near their homes just to catch a glimpse. These feeding areas help hummingbirds along their migratory journey, as they fly thousands of miles between their summer and winter homes. An adult ruby-throated hummingbird can eat twice its body weight each day to give themselves enough fuel to keep going!

Banding will take place on the center's back patio for the duration of the event, when there are birds available to be banded.  Federally Licensed Master Bander, Cynthia Routledge of Southeast Avian Research in Clarksville, Tennessee will return to lead the banding demonstrations.  Using specially designed tools, Mrs. Routledge will band each captured hummingbird with a band that has a number that will be unique to that individual bird, much like a “bird social security number”.  She will then take a series of additional measurements to determine the age and sex of the hummingbird and then the bird will be released.  

All these measurements will be carefully recorded, and all the information will be turned in to the Bird Banding Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, the central database for all North American bird banding information.  Researchers, such as Mrs. Routledge, have gained valuable insight and information about the lives and habits of hummingbirds through banding such as migration routes, longevity, nesting habits, population trends, the effects of habitat loss and a warming world.  

The day will include fun for the whole family, arts and crafts, hummingbird documentaries, and other activities will occur throughout the event. A hotdog, chips and drink meal will be available to purchase beginning at 10:00 am for $5.00. Individual drinks and bake sale items will also be available.

The participating public will be able to “Adopt a Hummingbird” for a donation of $10.00.  With that donation, you will receive a certificate with the band number, age, and sex of a bird.  You will also be notified if it is recaptured.  If there are enough birds, you may get to release one!  All proceeds will go to the Friends of Tennessee NWR who support hosting future environmental education programs for the public. 

As always, entrance to any Refuge event or to the Refuge Visitor Center is free to the public.  For more information about this or other refuge programs, call 731-642-2091.