Natures Little Helicopters

        A tiny bright green creature hovers above a flower in the backyard, and then quickly zips away, could it be a mini-helicopter?  Close, it’s a Ruby Throated Hummingbird, nature’s little helicopter.  These colorful, hovering, acrobatic little birds visit many flower gardens and hummingbird feeders in back yards.  Watching their flight movements cause us to compare them to a helicopter.  In reality, they are just a hyperactive, nectar-drinking bird whose air shows surpass any we see at our local airports-and you may never have to leave your backyard!

         As you learn more about this little chopper, you will become more fascinated and awe struck by this little creature’s flight.  It’s amazing how fast they appear, then quickly dart off.  A sudden buzz blows past your ear before you can focus, and it quickly loops away.  This fascinating little bird comes in a compact body size of 31/2 inches, weighing about 0.1oz. Its compact size adds to the unique flight and maneuverability. 

         They take flight with a wingspan of 41/2 inches.  They beat their wings about 50 times a second, so they appear as a blur.  The narrow’ stiff wings can rotate in their sockets; this allows their wings move in a figure-eight as apposed to the regular wing movement of other bird that are only up and down.  This figure-eight movement allows the hummingbirds to hover and fly in all directions – even upside down.  This wing movement gives them the appearance of a helicopter.  They can rocket from high in the sky to the ground, checking their flight just a few inches from objects and other hummers.  They get the name Hummingbird from the sound their incredibly fast beating wings make while they fly.  The humming of its wings is clearly discernible from some distance.

         They have about 1,500 feathers to equip them for flight.  About 25% of their body weight is the large flight muscles that make them capable of their spectacular flight.  They are tiny birds with big performance, capable of astonishing feats of flight.  They go like fighter pilots, chasing the enemy through the wild blue yonder flitting back and forth with turbo boost speed.  They fuel their flight with nectar from flowers and feeders.  To survive this turbo flight, they must drink almost twice their body weight in nectar every day.  Whether hovering or accelerating vertically like a nectar fueled rocket, the Hummingbird is a master of the air, aided by some unique features. 

         Nature has equipped her little helicopters to be the most amazing supercharged pilots of the bird world.  With its brilliant colors and it fascinating flight we are in awe of its beauty know matter how many times we are privileged to witness its flight.  You can enjoy natures little helicopters in your own back yard.  Hang up a feeder or plant some flowers and watch these little birds fly in for a fuel up.  You will soon be enjoying your own air show from nature’s little helicopters.