Dave Lemen

Bird Brain

Scientists have discovered that hummingbirds can remember the route to flowers where they've fed, and even keep track of how often the nectar is replenished.

My 91 year-old grandfather tells a great story about a hummingbird that frequented their feeder in Palm Desert. One day, while he and my grandmother were sitting outside on the patio, the hummingbird came and discovered that the feeder was empty. The hummingbird came over and hovered right in grandpa's face, making a couple jabs toward him ("hey you") and then a couple jabs toward the feeder ("it's empty"). Grandpa didn't move. Next, the bird went to my grandmother. Two jabs toward her ("hey lady"), followed by three jabs toward grandpa ("tell this guy"), and then some jabs at the feeder ("to get up and fill the feeder!").