This is a fantastic program from PBS--it took the camerawoman 18 months to get all of the shots. 50 minutes, and well worth the watch!!

Date:   12/23/2010 12:27:18 AM ( 14 y ago)

"Hummingbirds are the tiniest of birds, yet they are some of the toughest, most energetic creatures on the planet. Their unique flying abilities give them unmatched maneuverability, but at the cost of a supercharged metabolism that keeps them on the edge of survival. Hummingbirds spend most their lives in fast forward, but now high-speed video lets us enter their world."
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/hummingbirds-magic-in-the-air/video-f...


CLICK ON THIS LINK TO WATCH THE 50 MINUTE VIDEO: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/embed-player?pid=t7qCtwhceeWEzjzYVbzErSdsSjJyxmbs&sha...




"Hummingbirds take extraordinary to a whole new level. They are the smallest warm-blooded creatures on the planet, but they are also among the fastest. With wings that beat up to 200 times every second, they are among nature’s most accomplished athletes, the only birds able to hover, fly backwards, and even upside down. Hummingbird metabolisms are set in permanent overdrive, requiring them to consume more than half their body weight in nectar every day, yet even so, they remain in constant threat of starving to death as they sleep. To survive the night, they fluff up their feathers and adjust their thermostats, decreasing their body temperatures by half and reducing their heart rate from 600 beats per minute to a mere 36.

Because hummingbirds live their lives in fast forward, much of their fascinating world is typically lost to human perception. But using cameras able to capture over 500 images a second, the hummingbirds’ magical world can finally be seen and appreciated. Amazing footage shows these little powerhouses are far more than delicate nectar gatherers — they are also deadly predators. And watch as the birds display their elaborate mating rituals, showing off with nose dives that subject them to over ten G’s of force — enough to cause an experienced fighter pilot to black out!

These tiny marvels dazzle and delight bird watchers all over the world, and NATURE reveals their stunning abilities as they have never been seen before." http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/hummingbirds-magic-in-the-air/introdu...




More blogs related to hummingbirds:

Hummingbird Medicine: http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1661690


photo of newly laid hummingbird eggs from my back yard: http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1441561


photos of new hatchling and 10 day old hummingbird babies from my back yard: http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1451064


Hummingbird Totem: http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1150361


Hummingbird photos/woman hand-feeding birds http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1718987




 

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URL:   http://www.curezone.org/blogs/fm.asp?i=1742104

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