Error message

Deprecated function: Array and string offset access syntax with curly braces is deprecated in include_once() (line 20 of /home/raw3y9x1y6am/public_html/includes/file.phar.inc).

903

Hummingbirds at feeder
Every evening, just before sunset, the hummingbirds swarm around our feeders. Why do they suddenly get hungry at sunset?

Answer:

Hummingbirds have one of the highest metabolisms of any animal. This requires them to consume a tremendous amount of food to stay alive. They keep from starving to death each night by going into torpor, a state where their heart rate slows, breathing slows, and and their body temperature drops. It can take a hummingbird as much as 45 minutes to come out of torpor, making them very vulnerable to predators. Torpor will vary with the availability of food. A hummingbird that has enough food will not go into torpor at night, meaning it is much more likely to avoid night time predators.
Non-subscriber