Colorblindness is relative. Just as we can perceive hues that [dogs] can’t, can see colors that humans can’t. Whereas the three types of color-sensitive cone cells in our eyes allow us to see red, green, and blue light, hummingbirds (and most other birds) have a fourth type of cone attuned to [ultraviolet] light. In addition to UV light, birds may even be able to see combination colors like ultraviolet+green and ultraviolet+red — something we mere humans can only imagine. Having four types of cones cells, known as is also common in fish and reptiles, and researchers believe that [dinosaurs] possessed it as well. Some very special humans also seem to have a fourth type of cone — about [1% of the population]
Being able to see this way is especially useful for hummingbirds, whose endless quest for sugar is aided by their ability to discern different-colored flowers — including “nonspectral” colors that combine hues from widely different parts of the color spectrum. Purple is the only nonspectral color we humans can perceive (it involves both blue and red, or both short and long wavelengths of light), but some birds might see as many as five: purple, ultraviolet+red, ultraviolet+green, ultraviolet+yellow and ultraviolet+purple. That certainly sounds worth singing about.
Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backward.
Numbers Don’t Lie
Species of hummingbird 330
Colors most people can see 1 million
Hours a migrating hummingbird can fly without stopping 20
Times a hummingbird flaps its wings per minute, depending on the species 720-5,400
Birds have hollow bones — but not for the reason you might think.
If you were already aware that birds have hollow bones, you might have also heard that it’s because that makes them lighter — but that’s [not actually the reason]for this unusual feature. Studies have shown that bird skeletons aren’t any lighter than mammal skeletons of the same size. The actual reason bird bones aren’t just hollow but pneumatized (read: full of space for air) is because flying requires so much oxygen that their lungs actually extend into their bones. As a baby bird grows, the air sacs of its lungs create a series of small hollows in their bones that give them extra space for taking in oxygen. The trait helps birds take in oxygen both while inhaling and exhaling, which helps keep them aloft even longer.
I had a hummingbird at my feeder a few days ago and the fluid level in my feeder does go down. I think the fall is the best time in my backyard because the hummingbirds, butterflies, and dragonflies are fun to watch.
yard is already packed with butterflies and dragonflies, i see occasional hummingbirds.
we put out the feeder but they are more interested in the brightly colored bird bath
When Rita his the Golden Triangle, it wiped out a lot of vegetation. I had hundreds of hummingbirds. Usually I get about 30 - 40. I may have to add sugar water every couple of days. After Rita I was refilling three feeders 3 - 4 times a day. Think I went through 20 pounds of sugar.
I have large “window walls” in the treatment rooms and have set up feeders for the creatures. They always put on a show especially the squirrels. Better than a TV. I am sometimes amazed at what shows up, hawks, blue jays, cardinals, finches, woodpeckers, turtles, squirrels and even rabbits.
It’s called living in reality. My “selfish” need to only be concerned about the plight of insects and birds is primary to your “selfish” enjoyment of them. Your response was pretty much expected. The disconnect thst many like you have, in this feigned lip service love of God’s creation, is evident in the mass denial and ignorance of the plight of said creatures and the reality of the natural world itself when you shove your ballot into the box. So enjoy. You deserve it.
I don’t kill them, I remove them. Birds won’t nest where squirrels dominate. I have a yard full of birds of many varieties after removing 90+ squirrels. They will eat birds eggs btw.
IOh and bussey, BM. Don’t bother replying, I’ve moved you to ignore
