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2022-08-26
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*****************************
NATURE QUEST
by Karen Garrett
and Jon Barnes
*****************************
Put away the pith helmets! You
don't need to journey to the deepest
wilderness to study the wonders of
nature. Chances are good that if you
step outside your back door you will
encounter a part of nature worthy of
interest and celebration.
Karen Garrett found one of the
world's most remarkable creatures in
her back yard and made it the subject
of a beautiful computer graphic. The
wonderous beast? The ruby-throated
hummingbird!
Of the 17 different species of
hummingbirds that populate the
continental United States, the ruby-
throat is the most common and one of
the most stunning. It can be
recognized at a glance by the dark
green plummage which surrounds its
white feathered breast. The male of
the species is distinguished by an
irridescent red patch of feathers on
its throat (hence the name
"ruby-throated").
FAST FACTS ABOUT HUMMINGBIRDS
-----------------------------
Average size: 3 1/2 inches in
------------ length.
Average weight: 1/8 ounce (about the
-------------- weight of a penny).
Mobility: Flies in any
-------- direction and can
hover. Can fly 30
MPH straight ahead.
Wingbeats: 70 flaps per second.
---------- (note that a T.V.
scan beam refreshes
the screen only 60
times per second!)
Heartbeat rate: 600-1000 beats per
-------------- minute (note that the
human heart beats an
average 60-80 beats
per minute).
Primary food: Plant nectar: up to
------------ twice its body weight
per day!
Reproduction Hummingbirds lay two
------------ pea-sized eggs. The
female builds her
nest and cares for
the offspring alone,
feeding them five
times an hour by
regurgitation.
OTHER INTERESTING FACTS
-----------------------
- The hummingbird uses a specialized
'forked' tongue which draws the nectar
by capillary action.
- The tongue is also sticky, thus
allowing it to catch small insects
which supplement its diet.
- The hummingbird's high metabolism
causes it to have an average body
temperature of 104 degrees Farenheit
during the day. But at night, the
bird's temperature plunges downward to
that of air temperature, resulting in
a form of 'hibernation' while it
sleeps.
- The ruby-throat makes an annual
migration to Mexico and Central
America during the winter, flying
more than 600 miles non-stop across
the Gulf of Mexico.
HOW YOU CAN OBSERVE THE RUBY-THROAT
-----------------------------------
The graphic illustrating the map of
the U.S. will show you the range of
the bird. Generally, if you live
anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains,
you ought to be able to see the
ruby-throat during the summer months.
SET UP A HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER
---------------------------
If you live in areas frequented by
the ruby-throat, you can lure them
into your back yard or porch by
setting up a feeder. Hummingbird
feeders are usually available at
hardware or home supply stores. You
may wish to buy the commercial
'nectar', or use a homemade recipe of
1 part sugar or honey to 3 parts
water.
(Each mixture has its weakness,
though. The sugar mixture lacks the
proteins and vitamins the birds need;
the honey mixture has the proper
nutrients, but during hot weather, it
can putrefy quickly).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
--------------------
Select the RUN IT option from the
options in the Main Menu. There's
definitely a treat in store for you
there. If you want still more
information about this fascinating
creature, go to your local library or
bookstore and check out the many
references available.
Meanwhile, enjoy!
FILES REQUIRED:
NATURE.MENU HUMMER.FLY
HUMMERS.LNK MOVE.COLOR.O
UNPACKER HUMMER.SHP.MAP
HUMMER.MAP
-----------< end of text >------------