On January 16, 2013, Dr. Ralph Dolby, chairman of the Dept. of Biological
Sciences at the University of Mary Washington in Frederickburg, VA gave a
presentation /lecture to the Williamsburg Bird Club about the variety of ways
birds endure the freezing cold winters days and nights. He began his
presentation by saying that birds are the Hot-Rods of the animal kingdom. This
was explained to mean that birds have genetic ability to very quickly generate
heat because their body temperature can soar to 100 between 110 degrees
fahrenheit when the outside temperature drops to freezing or far below. I will
began posting continuing segments of his presentation/lecture that I have
compiled as a result of being a part of his audience and having him to
graciously send me most of his outlined presentation slides. After, reading
these reports, SOME of you will look at birds from a new perspective. The trip
that I made to Williamsburg VA to hear Dr. Dolby was worth all the bad weather
we had that night.
Adolph White , one of the Purple Martins Nesting Colony Landlords of Bryan Park
in Richmond VA. whitea60@xxxxxxxxxxx