Wow! What a fun weekend! Polly (Amanda’s grandma), Vernell (Polly’s friend), and Amanda went to Lake Roberts to a Hummingbird Banding Festival. We were able to listen to their heartbeats and hold them in our hands! They weigh practically nothing (4 grams) and their bodies vibrate like crazy! In fact, some cool facts are that:

  • Hummingbird eggs are about the size of a small pinto bean prior to cooking it.
  • Hummingbirs enter this world blind and naked of feathers, about the size of raisins.
  • Hummingbird hearts can exceed 1260 beats per minute.
  • Hummingbirds, when not flying, with breathe approximately 143 times per minute.
  • A hummingbird can dive at approximately 70 miles per hour. Normal flight speed is about 30 miles per hour without a head wind.
  • Hummingbird brains make up approximately 4.2% of their total body weight.
  • Hummingbird tongues are twice as long as their bills and run up the base of their skull and up over the top of their heads, just under their skin.

Go to their website to find out more:
http://www.hummingbirdsofnewmexico.com/
Enjoy the pictures!

Hummingbird Banding

Hummingbird Banding

Hummingbird Banding

Hummingbird Banding

Hummingbird Banding
This is Amanda with a VERY tall sunflower.
Hummingbird Banding
This is Brian and Dulce with the same VERY tall sunflower.