A DAZZLE OF HUMMINGBIRDS
Have you ever seen a hummingbird's wings stand still? Featuring 33 up-close, brilliant color photographs, A Dazzle of Hummingbirds lets readers peek into the daily life of the world's smallest bird. The book uses lively text to engage young audiences, explaining how hummingbirds care for their young, fly, sing, eat, migrate, and guard their territory. Did you know that hummingbirds can fly upside-down? That they have no ability to smell? And that their brains are proportionally the largest among birds? Reviewed by scientific experts, these and other fascinating facts add interest, as photos and maps portray the diverse habitats, from deserts to backyards, where hummingbirds can be found.
This updated edition's new material includes a brand-new "Secrets of Hummingbirds" section - a bullet-point summary page of "amazing but true" characteristics - and a completely rewritten "To Learn More" page with current information on helpful websites, books, organizations, videos, and DVDs.
"Intriguing facts, marvelous word pictures and unbelievably detailed and intimate photography will draw readers of all ages into this slim volume…The photo of one nest shows a dime towering over two tiny eggs. Many of the photos will prompt young readers to exclaim "Cool!" with an eagerness to share the unbelievable wonders of these minute bits of life." - Children's Literature
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Secrets of Hummingbirds:
- Each day, hummers need to drink nectar from at least 1,000 flowers. Their long tongues sip nectar faster than your eye can see---about a dozen sips per second.
- It takes about 15 minutes for a hummer to digest a nectar meal.
- These small birds are sometimes mistaken for bees and other insects. At other times, nectar-loving insects like the hawk moth are mistaken for hummingbirds!
- Most males wear iridescent feathers on parts of their bodies. But only one-third of each feather— just the part that shows—is iridescent.
- World champions at flight, hummers can flap their wings up to 200 beats per second.
- When migrating, hummingbirds take it slower. But they still beat their wings up to 50 times per second.
- The courtship dive of a hummingbird can reach 60 miles per hour or more. See-through membranes, like swim goggles, protect their eyes.
- It always appears to be in motion, but a typical hummingbird spends more time perching than on any other activity.
- Hummingbirds are the only birds in the world that can lower
their heart rate and temperature. This energy-saving state is called torpor.
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To Learn More:
- The Hummingbird Society has an active membership of 2,500. Valuable quarterly, information-rich website; their mission is to educate and protect all hummer species. Sponsors of the annual Festival of Hummingbirds in Tucson, AZ. Website: www.hummingbird.org
- Through its website, the National Wildlife Federation sponsors eNature.com, a great guide to hummers in your local area. You can search by species, too. http://www.nwf.org
- Earthwatch Institute, 3 Clock Tower Place, #100, Maynard MA 01754. Kids can become members, learn about important studies being carried out worldwide to save species and habitats from hummingbirds to rainforests. Ages 16 and up can take part in over 150 expeditions. Invaluable resource for educators. www.earthwatch.org
- National Audubon Society, now partnered with BirdLife International for global coverage, has a tremendous range of programs, publications, and ways to help. The website is outstanding, and local chapters are very active. www.audubon.org
- Nature Conservancy plays a major role in land purchase for habitat preservation. www.nature.org
- Operation RubyThroat: the Hummingbird Project. The website is interactive and focuses on one species. www.rubythroat.org
- Globe program. This fascinating hands-on science program in schools is worldwide. Through the internet, downloadable materials, and teacher training, Globe teaches kids how to conduct research field observations, enter data, and interact with real scientists. One of its programs focuses on the ruby-throated hummingbird. www.globe.gov
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