[TN-Bird] Rufous Hummingbird Day 78

From: eyesew@xxxxxxxxx (Virginia Curtis)
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 06:34:46 -0600
It was really cold here last night - low 20's - and must have taken a
lot of sugar water energy for Willie to stay warm.  So he came early at
6:11 and,  instead of his usual "touch and go" first visit, he drank
long enough for a bubble to come up in the feeder.  He's returned four
more times in the next ten minutes, indicating he was really hungry.  

We've noticed something on the days we have the 250 watt heat lamp in
use to warm the feeder.  On those days Willie comes to the back port of
the four-port feeder in his initial morning visits, then switches to the
right port directly under the heat lamp for the rest of the day.  We
think he likes the back port because from there he can do a "peel and
dive" to the right like fighter pilots leaving a formation.
This is the fastest and most direct route to the safety of his cedar
bush sitting place.  But when he switches to the port which is most
directly under the heat lamp, is that reasoning or intuition?  Does he
have logic enough to know the warmest place or does something in his
makeup just instinctively direct him?  He sure seems capable of making
the right choices for survival and makes one wonder if an intelligent
design indicates an Intelligent Designer who either gives wisdom or
instinct as well as breathtaking beauty to tiny little male Rufous
Hummingbirds.  

Tommy & Virginia Curtis
Smithville, TN
DeKalb County

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[TN-Bird] Rufous Hummingbird Day 78

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