RE: [APML] OT: hummers

["Dale Ireland" <direland@drdale.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: On Behalf Of George Anderson
Subject: Re: [APML] OT: hummers
Every time I've tried photographing them they have darted off just from the
sound of the shutter firing on my Pentax, it would be twenty to thirty
minutes before they would return.
George

 George, I found the same thing. It took me about 100 tries to get a couple
good shots.
http://www.drdale.com/photography/images/hummer1.jpg
They eventually get used to the noise and flash. Mine is about 1/10,000 sec
in broad daylight but without a backdrop like Matt so the background comes
out dark, Kodak Gold asa100, Nikon 105 macro f/4. Matt's are about 1/30,000,
wow.
You would be amazed at how many myths there are regarding Hummingbirds. I
use the photo to debunk some. Lots of people think their beak is a hollow
tube like a straw. It is a normal beak and they catch lots of bugs on the
fly. Some people think they have no feet, heh heh, as if they are going to
fly 24hrs a day. Lots of myths are attached to their migration, my favorite
is that they migrate by riding on the backs of other birds, especially
geese, one of my patients believes this and no amount of reasoning will
dissuade her. There is still a controversy about whether they can fly all
the way across the Gulf of Mexico, 800mi. Metabolic studies indicate they
don't have quite enough fat reserves but one study claims to have tracked
tagged birds. They appear here in the Seattle area from March to Sept. They
come during the daylight savings time period so they can have an extra hour
a day for feeding.;)
Dale



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