Q&A with Lanny Chambers in 2001
Ecology
Q. Where do hummingbirds go during a hurricane?
We read a book by Robert McCloskey about
a hurricane in Maine.
A: Humminbirds take whatever shelter they can find, often in dense shrubbery,
and ride out the storm. In Louisiana, some people have attached small
feeders to fence posts and trees with duct tape, so they won't be blown
down, and have seen hummingbirds visit the feeders whenever the wind dropped,
even in heavy rain.
Conservation
Q. What would the possible spraying for Gypsy Moth do to the hummingbirds
in Forest Park, Portland, Oregon?
A: To date, Gypsy Moths have not spread farther west than Michigan, so
this shouldn't be an issue until the next century, if ever. Although the spraying of chemical insecticides is one method of treatment,
there are other methods, including the use of the Gypsy Moth's natural predators and
parasites, which probably have no effect on the hummingbirds.
Lanny Chambers
Visit his site: hummingbirds.net
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