Avian Beauty Podcast #2

05/10/19 • 2 min

SHOW NOTES:
That's the sound of a Lucifer Hummingbird - one of more than 300 species of hummingbird in the world. And while only two dozen or so of those species make it as far north as the United States, polls show that most Americans love hummingbirds - and that's no surprise. These colorful little birds are quite unusual. Did you know that they are the only bird in the world that can fly backwards? They weight in at less than a US nickel but they are fast and acrobatic. They need powerful wings because they beat up to 80 times per second. And hummingbirds have far more unique flight abilities than any other bird. Not only can they fly backwards - they are able to fly forward, sideways, and straight up. They can also hover extensively, much longer than short-term hovering birds like ospreys, kestrels, kingfishers, and a select few other species. Hummingbirds can even do aerobatics such as backward somersaults as they dart among flowers searching for nectar and insects.

There are plenty of remarkable things about hummingbirds. It's hard to imagine that a bird bird that is 3.1 inches long has the maneuverability and speed of a fighter jet - relative to its size. They do all that flying without many feathers. Hummingbirds typically have fewer feathers than any other bird.

Hummingbirds are always busy and when they do take just a moment to perch, they often sing to us.

Then they go back to work - looking for food. They even have busy tongues, they can move 13 times per second to take in nectar - and that is a good thing. Hummers can (and often need to) eat twice their weight in a day.

I'm so glad you stopped by to learn a few fun facts about hummingbirds.

I'd like to end this podcast with beautiful words from Maya Angelou - "A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song." Thanks for listening, be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information. I'm Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

Hummingbirds are always busy and when they do take just a moment to perch, they often sing to us.

I'm so glad you stopped by to learn a few fun facts about hummingbirds.

Previous Episode

Avian Beauty Podcast #1

The call of an American Goldfinch starts us off today on Avian Beauty which is something of a brand new journey for me. While I have hosted many podcasts in the past, they have always been about technology or photography – including bird photography. But at my heart – I am a birder first and decided to try my hand at sharing my knowledge of – and love for – birds. So welcome to Avian Beauty the podcast. There is a companion blog at http://www.avianbeauty.com and soon there will be a coffee table book produced, along with other interesting products that relate to the show. I’ll be here every Friday with a short podcast about one aspect of birding or maybe even just a quick note about one bird. These short duration podcasts are a perfect weekly pick me up for those who just need a moment to consider our avian neighbors and for those who may wish to go to my blog for more information.

This first show is what we call a placeholder show, this establishes the podcast in iTunes and other popular podcast applications, builds the RSS feed (that helps others find the show) and puts a stake in the ground for what I hope will become time we share together on a weekly basis.

Because this is a placeholder show, the rest of today’s inaugural episode is simply a poem by Robert Frost.

“Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stand still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.”
Here’s hoping this poem, helps you find some peace, joy, beauty and happiness today. Let’s try to be more like our feathered friends. Living in the moment – happy where we are.

In episode two, I’ll share some information about the only bird in the world that can fly backwards! I can’t wait.

Thanks for listening, be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.

Next Episode

Avian Beauty Podcast #3

What do bees, bugs and butterflies have in common with birds - other than the fact that they can fly? Birds are great pollinators. Somewhere between 1000 and 2000 bird species pollinate and without them, our flower shops would likely go out of business.

Do you remember the old television commercial where the actor says "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature?"

Well it really isn't. When humans disrupt the relationships between birds and the plants they pollinate, they put the entire world ecosystem AND economy at risk.

How does this all work? Let's take an easy example. Hummingbirds love flowers. And when feeding on a flower, the bird gets pollen on its body. When it visits the next flower, looking for food, the pollen rubs off on that flower. The pollen fertilizes the plants eggs which produce seeds and assure the plants reproduction.

Don't think that hummingbirds are the only pollinators. Spiderhunters, sunbirds, honeycreepers and honeyeaters are also common pollinator bird species.

Birds are not known for pollinating food growing crops, but this does not mean that they are not important. If it were not for the assistance of our feathered friends, many plant species would be in danger of extinction.

In next week's episode, I'll tell you about "The King Of The Birds." It should be majestic.

I hope you've enjoyed this episode of Avian Beauty. Thanks for listening. Be sure to visit avianbeauty.com for more bird inspiration and information and please consider subscribing (for free) to our blog and podcast. I’m Scott Bourne. Happy birding.