12 October 24

Birdtober Day 12: When the Bird Flies Away Too Fast

pen and wash drawing of a hummingbird mostly from memory, more or less successfully

Posted by at 10:18 AM in | Link

11 October 24

Birdtober Day 11: How Hummingbirds Handle Cold Weather

Drawing of an Anna's hummingbird perched on a wire with its feathers fluffed out

Posted by at 11:55 AM in | Link

10 October 24

Birdtober Day 10: Posture

pen and wash drawing of two hummingbirds at a feeder, with hunchback pose

Posted by at 03:25 PM in | Link

9 October 24

Birdtober Day 9: Urine and What It Can Tell Us

drawing of two hummingbirds in flight, one of them having defecated

I spent a wonderful morning talking with Dr. Paulina Gonzalez about her research on hummingbirds. Biochemical analysis of large animals is usually done with blood samples. Hummingbirds are so tiny and delicate that it’s difficult to get enough blood without overly stressing the animal both physically and emotionally. Dr. Gonzalez extracts their urine instead, which is much easier since a) hummingbirds pee a LOT, because they have to drink so much nectar, and b) all it takes is a tiny moment of disorientation before they realize they’re trapped and nervous-pee. Boom. She’s in with her pipette before they figure it out and then they’re free to fly off.

What she and her team look for is different hormone levels (testosterone or stress). It’s fascinating work and I’d like to thank her for helping to develop a minimally invasive research method for these birds!

Posted by at 03:15 PM in | Link

8 October 24

Birdtober Day 8: Threatening Posture

drawing of an adult male Anna's hummingbird with a young male threatening with posture (unsuccessfully

Posted by at 03:13 PM in | Link

7 October 24

Birdtober Day 7: Hummingbird Metabolism

drawing showing hovering hummingbird at a flower; 800 wingbeats per second generate a fast heartbeat of 1300 beats per minute. Hummingbirds have to eat nearly their own weight in nectar every day.

Posted by at 03:08 PM in | Link

6 October 24

Birdtober Day 6: Blind Contour Drawings of Anna's Hummingbirds

pen and ink drawings of hummingbirds without looking at the paper Blind contour drawings are a great way to learn form without obsessing whether or not a drawing is “right.”

Posted by at 03:06 PM in | Link

5 October 24

Birdtober Day 5: Feet

drawings and diagrams showing the feet of Anna's hummingbirds, perched and in flight

Posted by at 03:04 PM in | Link

4 October 24

Birdtober Day 4: Perching Female Anna's Hummingbird

pen and wash drawing of a female hummingbird retracting its tongue

Posted by at 02:58 PM in | Link

3 October 24

Birdtober Day 3: Hummingbird in Shadow

drawing of a male hummingbird with no visible iridescence

Posted by at 02:56 PM in | Link

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