Good Things Come in Small
Packages
Often I receive emails from our
readers asking me to write about various topics, and I wish I had time to do all
of them. I do want you to know that I read EVERY
email, and respond to each of
them.
Anthem Opinions makes every attempt
to diversify our topics, because we believe that life is a precious gift; that
there are so many aspects of it that should be enjoyed; and that there is a
great deal of life available to all of us outside the
walls of the Sun City Anthem community.
...at the same time, we also look within those walls, trying to look at what
others might see...yet rarely reflect on long enough to appreciate it
!
...and today is one of those days
!
About a week ago I received an email
from one of our readers, Fran Regan, who loves nature
every bit as much as I do.
...and Fran, this one's for you
!
It's about something that most of us
see now and then, and in almost 100% of the time; when we do, we just stop dead
in our tracks and stare in awe, while we allow this wonder of nature to go about
its business of "survival".
I'm talking about
a...
Hummingbird
I can't think of a better example of
something so special that comes in such a small package
!
Hummingbirds weigh as much as a
penny and are one of the smallest species of birds whose length rarely exceeds 3
inches.
There are various species, but the
one that is most prevalent here is the "black-chinned
hummingbird".
The adult male has a black face and
chin, a glossy purple throat band, and a dark forked
tail.
The female has a dark rounded tail
with white tips and no throat patch.
These tiny wonders are migratory,
and spend the winters in Mexico; so if you see one, enjoy it now,
because they'll shortly be off to a warmer climate.
What makes a hummingbird so
fascinating is that it's the only bird that can fly
backwards !
Why are they called "Humming"...birds"?
...because of the humming sound
created by their beating wings, which sometimes sounds like bees or other
insects...
...and amazingly, those wings
flutter so quickly that they can fly at speeds up to 34
mph. Depending on the species, the wings can flutter from 12 to 80 times
PER SECOND.
Because they're so tiny, they are one of God's most delicate creatures.
Because they're so tiny, they are one of God's most delicate creatures.
When they sleep, their hearts beat
at 1/15 of their normal metabolic rate, literally placing them in a hibernation-like state each night; allowing them to conserve energy for the
following day's search for food.
...and they eat like "pigs"....consuming up to 10-12 times their body weight in
nectar each day....over a short period time (about 15% of their day), while they
spend the other 85% perching in a shrub sleeping and digesting
it.
(Makes you wonder if seniors going
to buffets are their direct descendants)
Like humans, they love
sweets...and their definition of "sweet" is in the form
of nectar...from flowers.
...and over the millions of years,
their beaks have developed long enough that they can reach inside the flower to
get the sweet goody they crave.
When hummingbirds feed on nectar,
the bill is usually opened only slightly, allowing the tongue to dart out and
into the interior of the flower.
...but they know that some flowers
are better than others, and will reject those that have less than a 10% sugar
content.
...and so, they meet their needs for
protein, amino acids, and minerals by consuming insects and
spiders.
They are also very territorial.
Once they find a good feeding place, they will often fight off other
hummingbirds for complete dominance !
Here's a tip
about where they hang out...
Many plants pollinated by
hummingbirds produce flowers shaded in red, orange, and pink.
So....now that you know more than
you'll ever want to know about hummingbirds...enjoy this video to examine them
in action....
It was sent to us from Fran Regan...and Fran, we thank you for making us
appreciate the beauty of something we see...yet often take for
granted.
Got a topic you want us to
explore?
We'll do our best to share it with
our readers.
Dick
Arendt
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