A hummingbird's long, needle-shaped beak evolved over millions of years; it matches perfectly with the shape of flowers. It's a symbiotic relationship. Hummingbirds want the nectar from the flowers - the flowers want to be pollinated so they can reproduce. The birds extend their long, flexible tongues deeper into the flower than any other bird in north Texas.
Their tongues are actually about a third longer than their beaks, so they can get at nectar other birds can't reach. The nectar is brought to the birds' mouths via lapping and capillary action, similar to a dog. Not by sucking.
Toads don't cause warts. That's just an old wife's tale that mommas told us so we'd keep our hands out of the mud. Actually, toads are good to have around in one respect. A single one eats thousands of insects in just one season. If you have a "toad house" make sure it's placed in the shade.
We can certainly learn a lot from nature.
ReplyDelete