Bob and Martha Sargent of Clay, Alabama founded The Hummer/Bird Study Group (HBSG) in 1994. It is dedicated to the study and preservation of hummingbirds and other Neo-tropical migrants (songbirds that spend our summer in North America and migrate to South and Central America for our winter). The research programs with hummingbirds and migrating songbirds have been under way since 1987. All of HBSG’s banding of migratory songbirds takes place in Alabama. The only way to save birds is to know what they require for survival. So, we must learn as much about them as possible. Banding is one of the tools used to learn more about birds.

Recently, we interviewed the Mr. Sargent to find out more about his amazing work.

1) What is your job?

I am a retired Master Electrician. I retired just over one year ago. My wife Martha and I both were electricians who owned our own small electrical fabrication business.

2) Where you interested in birds/natural history as a child?

As long as I can remember. I grew up in a family of hunters and fishermen who were really savvy woodsman. I cannot remember a time when I was not fascinated by the woods and its creatures.

3) What is your educational background?

I graduated from high school (with my wife Martha) in 1955 and went directly into the United States Air Force. I was trained as an electronics technician and served as a radar technician for four years. I have no college training.

4) How did you wind up working with hummingbirds/migrants?

Martha really got me hooked on bird feeding, then bird watching. We lost our mates before that and found each other again after 30 years. We loved the hobby of birds and were fortunate enough to be granted a permit to band birds with the assistance of Dr. Thomas Imhof (author and ornithologist) who was retiring as a bander. The banding of hummers was our special project.

5) What is your favorite pollinator?

I should probably respond "hummingbird". In fact, my favorites, plural, are the native bees, wasp and other insects. I am not a great fan of the honeybees imported here from Europe. I think that our native pollinators get overlooked by most studies. After the decline of the imported honey bees due to mites and other causes, I found our garden flourished with the native pollinators. In addition, we did not have them clogging up our hummer feeders. We also lost the threat of bee-stings when their numbers declined. I was once a bee-keeper, but not any more.

6) What is the most interesting thing you learned about hummingbirds?

Probably that they have such great fidelity to nesting sites and migration routes. They often reuse the same nest as in previous years. I often encounter previously banded hummers on the exact same day each year. The same males and females often return to my 10 acres and set up breeding and nesting territories year after year. HUMMINGBIRDS DO NOT PAIR.

7) Why/how did you start the banding program?

That one is easy: We wanted to learn more about the secretive lives of hummers and other neotropical migrant birds. We decided that banding (and sometimes color-marking) was the only way to track the natural history of individual birds. We have not been disappointed!!! Our original banding operation started with just Martha and me at our home. We now have an 1800+ member, non-profit organization that assists in funding our work in 21 states. Our banders (we trained them) are now operating in a far-flung network that covers much of the eastern and western US, as well as several Central and South American countries. Life is good.

8) Why would a kid like your job?

Where else can you get to hold and observe birds in the hand? We do not get paid for our work with birds. It is all volunteer work and it is all wonderful! It is a labor of love. In our case, we meet thousands of wonderful people each year and make long lasting friendships with many of them. Next to my wife Martha and my old dog Libby, I love birds more than anything on earth! One could not have a more enjoyable hobby than the study of birds.

9) What are the biggest issues pollinators face and what can we do about it?

I think that the overuse of pesticides is the most pressing issue. The loss of habitat threatens wildlife in general and birds in particular. POLLINATORS ARE ALSO THREATENED BY THIS LOSS OF HABITAT. The preservation of habitat is the most crucial priority in my opinion. The acquisition of lands to be set aside for wildlife is imperative!

10) What is it like at the banding sites?

At our home, it is laid-back and casual. Even with many hundreds of guests each summer who come to observe the banding of hummers, we keep it easy and relaxed. At our Fort Morgan, Alabama banding station it can be quite hectic. There we have two sites and many dozens of nets to run every 15 minutes or so. We often band many hundreds of birds each day. The health of the migratory birds is always our top priority. It is a lot of fun and a lot of work. We are blessed with a wonderful group of excellent banders that deserve the credit for our great success. The fact that we often have many
hundreds of guests daily adds to the mix an almost carnival-like atmosphere. We do the science and are still able to get the public involved in the process. It is the best of all worlds.

11) What is the weirdest thing about hummingbirds?

The ability to fly non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico (Ruby-throated). I never ceased to be amazed at how tough and durable they can be. This ability is found in all neotropical migrant birds. Amazing stuff!!

12) What is the yuckiest thing that hummingbirds do?

They poop on you almost every time you hold them. The feed often and eat a lot of tiny insects and nectar. They seem to be able to poop on you as a "going away present" each time you release them. It is all part of the routine of banding birds.