Natural History Wanderings

Male Black-chinned Hummingbird Image via Wikipedia

PBS  did a documentary about hummingbirds in 2010 called Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air

It was well photographed, including slower action, so you are better able  to watch the hummingbirds, and tiny cameras placed inside of flowers that gave a great point of view of the birds’ approach. Segments included hummingbird behavior, dominance “dogfights”, hummingbird research, and  why the Black-chinned Hummingbird prefers to nest near Coopers HawksThe video was very informational. Some interesting facts about Hummingbirds:

• 800o Flowers are pollinated by Hummingbirds
• The Swordbill Hummingbird has a 4 inch beak
• Hummingbirds are evolutionary related to swifts and excellent at catching insects
• Hummingbirds heartbeats are 600 to 1200 beats per minute
• Hummingbird Color i not due to pigments but  cells breaking down
• Hummingbirds go into a torpor at night to conserve energy reducing their heart rate to 30 beats per minute

To see the video on line go to: Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air

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