Thousands of hummingbirds are making their annual journey south this month, and visitors to Jeffers Bend Environmental Center will have a front-row seat to one of nature’s most remarkable migrations during the fourth annual Hummingbird Festival on Aug. 22. The festival’s centerpiece is live hummingbird banding by licensed bird bander Cindy Routledge, the same researcher who bands birds during the popular Hummingbird Festival at the Woodlands Nature Station in Land Between the Lakes. Beyond the live banding demonstrations, the festival will feature educational booths on hummingbird biology, feeder care and Native American lore surrounding hummingbirds. The Hummingbird Festival is one of several annual events hosted at Jeffers Bend Environmental Center, which also offers Nature Fest, Take Kids Fishing Day, and Christmas at the Bend as part of its mission to connect families with nature through hands-on environmental education. Chiles said the hummingbird festival has become a favorite because it offers families an opportunity to experience wildlife up close while learning how small actions at home can make a difference.