The Greek roots of the word photography translate as "writing with light." Welcome to my studio--a place to practice and illuminate good work using writing and photography.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

A hibernating bird?

The elusive Common Poorwill is an insectivore, feeding mainly on night-flying insects, especially moths and beetles, grasshoppers and flies. During the winter when insects become scarce, instead of migrating to a warmer climate, the Poorwill's metabolic rate drops enough for it to survive several weeks or months without eating. Its body temperature can drop as low as 40 degrees fahrenheit and its respiration can decrease up to 90%--a state called torpor. The extended periods the Poorwill is able to descend into torpor make it the only known bird to hibernate. 


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