"Hummingbirds are the lightest birds in the sky. Of their roughly 240
species, all confined to the Western Hemisphere, the largest, an Andean
'giant,' is only eight inches long; the smallest, the bee
hummingbird of Cuba, is just over two inches long and weighs a single
gram.
"Delicacy is the trade-off that hummingbirds have made for their
unrivaled powers of flight. Alone among birds, they can hover, fly backward,
even fly upside down. For such small birds, their speed is astonishing: in his
courtship display to impress a female, a male Allen's hummingbird, for instance,
can dive out of the sky reaching sixty-one miles per hour, plunging from
fifty feet at a rate of more than sixty feet per
second -- and pulling out of his plunge, he experiences more than nine times the
force of gravity. (Adjusted for body length, the Allen's is the fastest bird in
the world. Diving at 385 body lengths per second, this hummer beats the
peregrine falcon's dives at 200 body lengths per second -- and even bests the
space shuttle as it screams down through the atmosphere at 207 body lengths per
second.)
"Hummingbirds are the lightest birds in the sky. Of their roughly 240
species, all confined to the Western Hemisphere, the largest, an Andean
'giant,' is only eight inches long; the smallest, the bee
hummingbird of Cuba, is just over two inches long and weighs a single
gram.
"Delicacy is the trade-off that hummingbirds have made for their
unrivaled powers of flight. Alone among birds, they can hover, fly backward,
even fly upside down. For such small birds, their speed is astonishing: in his
courtship display to impress a female, a male Allen's hummingbird, for instance,
can dive out of the sky reaching sixty-one miles per hour, plunging from
fifty feet at a rate of more than sixty feet per
second -- and pulling out of his plunge, he experiences more than nine times the
force of gravity. (Adjusted for body length, the Allen's is the fastest bird in
the world. Diving at 385 body lengths per second, this hummer beats the
peregrine falcon's dives at 200 body lengths per second -- and even bests the
space shuttle as it screams down through the atmosphere at 207 body lengths per
second.)
Oh wow a hummingbird, I couldn't stop thinking of a predatory diving bird
Didn't know it either. One of those facts we can pass on to kids when they see a humming bird. Actually the fastest birds in the world left right and center flight.
Their heart rate and body armor design is also a freak of nature.
Quote Originally Posted by thecentaur:
Oh wow a hummingbird, I couldn't stop thinking of a predatory diving bird
Didn't know it either. One of those facts we can pass on to kids when they see a humming bird. Actually the fastest birds in the world left right and center flight.
Their heart rate and body armor design is also a freak of nature.
"Hummingbirds are less flesh than fairies. They are little more than
bubbles fringed with iridescent feathers-air wrapped in light.
... Feathers are among the most complex structural organs found in
nature. Nothing of comparable dimension is stronger. They are made of keratin,
the same as a humans fingernails, a horse's hooves, and a rhino's horn-but the
keratin in feathers, due to a difference in molecular structure, is even
tougher."
Can't make this up.
"Hummingbirds are less flesh than fairies. They are little more than
bubbles fringed with iridescent feathers-air wrapped in light.
... Feathers are among the most complex structural organs found in
nature. Nothing of comparable dimension is stronger. They are made of keratin,
the same as a humans fingernails, a horse's hooves, and a rhino's horn-but the
keratin in feathers, due to a difference in molecular structure, is even
tougher."
This bush takes forever to bloom. Mid June and it's just now budding out. But it will last until Sept. Attracts hummingbirds and all kinds of bees. Really cool to sit on the front steps with a smoke and a drink and watch all the activity.
NOW...
ANOTHER TRIVIA QUESTION...
What is the difference between a "Condominium" and a "Townhouse"?
~~~~~ZOSO~~~~~
If you build it they will come.
Planted a Rose of Sharon (White) in front of our Townhouse a couple of years ago.
This bush takes forever to bloom. Mid June and it's just now budding out. But it will last until Sept. Attracts hummingbirds and all kinds of bees. Really cool to sit on the front steps with a smoke and a drink and watch all the activity.
NOW...
ANOTHER TRIVIA QUESTION...
What is the difference between a "Condominium" and a "Townhouse"?
The real difference is that a Townhouse owns both the structure itself the land in front and back of the unit. A Condominium owner only owns the inside walls and the inside habitable spaces.
Both will utilize an "Association" that collects dues to take care of common space repairs and upkeep Lawn mowing, snow shoveling, any basic upkeep.
As a Townhouse owner I get to plant Rose of Sharon bushes and enjoy the Hummingbirds. Or grow tomato beefsteak and make sauce.
Yes, you DO learn SOMETHING every day of this wondrous life.
~~~~~ZOSO~~~~~
A lot of disinformation out there on the web.
Mostly because it differs across the USA.
The real difference is that a Townhouse owns both the structure itself the land in front and back of the unit. A Condominium owner only owns the inside walls and the inside habitable spaces.
Both will utilize an "Association" that collects dues to take care of common space repairs and upkeep Lawn mowing, snow shoveling, any basic upkeep.
As a Townhouse owner I get to plant Rose of Sharon bushes and enjoy the Hummingbirds. Or grow tomato beefsteak and make sauce.
Yes, you DO learn SOMETHING every day of this wondrous life.
That means upside down.
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