Imagine you are a winged, feathered creature, just 3 inches long, weighing in at 0.1 to 0.2 ounces. Imagine too that you spend the summer months in Canada and other parts of eastern North America, and you spend the winter months from southern Mexico southward across Central America to Panama. That’s what Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) do every year. Traveling Hummingbirds flying back and forth alone.

They have no maps or GPS help. They somehow know where they are going and manage to rejoin other Ruby-throated Hummingbirds after a trip of 1,000 to 1,600 miles. And if the Hummingbird should choose to cross the Gulf of Mexico (some do, some don’t) they fly that 500 miles over 18 to 24 hours (weather dependent) non-stop.

Incredible. Just thinking about it makes me feel very worn out. I think I’ll sit down.