Watch the beautiful Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds before they migrate south!

Come see them at Penitentiary Glen Reservation!

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are still at Penitentiary Glen Reservation for a limited time!  This gives visitors the opportunity to see something special!  The hummingbirds will begin their annual trek south soon.  Their migration begins at the end of August and early September, so head out to Penitentiary Glen to see these amazing birds in flight.

Come see our tiny feathery friends in larger groups at the birdfeeders behind the front desk of the Nature Center, and through the award winning Window on Wildlife on the feeders, the updated water garden, and in the butterfly gardens.  Watch as they congregate on the feeders sipping sugar water and drinking nectar from the flowers.  Come see the beauty and grace of these hummingbirds.

Hummingbird Open House
Penitentiary Glen Reservation
Sunday, August 7 • Noon to 4 pm • FREE!
Lake Metroparks hosts a Hummingbird Open House this Sunday, August 7.  Join us to learn all about our local hummingbirds, how to attract them, and tips about feeders and nectar. Fun activities for the whole family!  Registration is not required.  This program is part of the FREE FUN 4 Everyone Lake Metroparks is offering this summer.

Did you know?

• Hummingbirds travel 525 miles non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico, and then up to another 1000 miles into Central America
• It takes an estimated 20 hours to fly across the Gulf of Mexico.
• A Hummingbird eats about its weight in nectar daily.  Keep your feeder stocked with sugar water. They eat 5-10 times per hour for 30-60 seconds each feeding.
• Normally the hummingbird needs about 10 calories of food per day to survive. That is equivalent to a piece of hard candy. This can come in the form of sugar water, flower nectar, insects and spiders.
• Average body temperature of a hummingbird is 105-108 degrees F. On a cold night, a hummingbird can lower its body temperature by about 20 degrees F.  This helps it conserve energy that would be used to maintain its normal temperature. The next morning, the hummingbird speeds up its metabolism and gets its body temperature back up to normal, in a matter of a few minutes.
• Most hummingbirds live for about one year, but some have been known to live for about three years.

During your visit to Penitentiary Glen Reservation, discover the many interactive exhibits and displays, including the award-winning "Window on Wildlife” in the Nature Center.  Hike more than seven miles of scenic trails, discover the beautiful butterfly gardens, or enjoy a leisurely picnic. Take home a gift from The Nature Store – your headquarters for t-shirts, field guides, toys, and children’s books.  The Nature Center is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day.  Discover native Ohio wildlife at the Wildlife Center.  

Directions
Penitentiary Glen Reservation is located at 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road in Kirtland.  Parking is free.  Directions: Take I-90 to Rt. 306. Head south one mile to Rt. 615. Turn left and follow 1/8 mile to Kirtland-Chardon Road . Turn right onto Kirtland-Chardon Road and proceed two miles to Penitentiary Glen Reservation on the right.