Bird Jammin'

wag.mado@evpl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:08:00 GMT

The Reference Department at Central Library often gets questions regarding animal behavior. One recent question was "Can a giraffe lick its ear with its tongue?" On any given day, we have to be prepared for those perplexing questions that need to be answered. One of you out there may be wondering if animals can dance. Well, read on and see for yourself.

According to a new study from the Neurosciences Institute in La Jolla California, humans are not the only ones who have a sense of rhythm. Some birds, dolphins, elephants and seals might be able to move to a beat and actually dance. One of the subjects studied by scientist Aniruddh Patel and his colleagues was a cockatoo named Snowball. Snowball actually lives in Indiana at Bird Lovers Only Rescue. He appears to prefer rock music - especially The Backstreet Boys. You may have seen Snowball on YouTube. He not only moves his head, but his feet and other body parts to the beat of music.

In another study at Harvard University, researcher Adena Schachner and colleagues studied thousands of dancing animals on YouTube and concluded that several species of parrots and elephants have the ability to perform synchronized movements in accordance with various musical beats.

Snowball was one of the favorites in both studies. And after viewing his videos, you will know why.

Out of these studies came a theory that the ability to dance is related to a propensity for mimicking sounds vocally - that somehow the two are interconnected. What about elephants? Well, they have been known to mimic sounds in their environment also.

So, there's your answer - although additional studies are needed to prove the above theory.

Oh, and by the way - the answer to the giraffe question is yes. The length of a giraffe tongue is about 18-20 inches!

Read more about animal behavior by checking out these books. Or, contact us today with one of your own questions.

Hummingbird Nectar

wag.mado@evpl — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:10:00 GMT

It's that time of year to fill your hummingbird feeder. And, in case you have forgotten, you can make your own nectar and save some money. Here's a recipe from the Smithsonian Institute's National Zooilogical Park website.

Directions for making safe hummingbird food:

1. Mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water and bring to a boil to kill any bacteria or mold present.
2. Cool and fill feeder.
3. Extra sugar water may be stored in a refrigerator.
4. Red dye should not be added.

If you would like to know some interesting facts regarding our little friends, you can visit the Smithsonian's Migratory Bird Center. There's even a place to try to find a hummingbird in the National Zoo's Humingbird Garden. The little guy is in there - so don't give up until you see him.

And, when you finish exploring the Hummingbird Garden, you may want to pick up a book at the library the next time your in. We have these titles about hummingbirds and many other books about our backyard friends. Just ask one of us at Reference Desk to show you where they are located.

Research Blog : reference questions, birds

Bird Jammin'

Hummingbird Nectar