Apologies for my “unkind” remarks yesterday…. 

“ hey Larry, lighten up, dude! ”   (  this ish me self-talk focus this morning   =)  (=   

Apparently, I’m irreversibly afflicted with HES…. “high expectations syndrome” that we, on a state listserv regarding birds, could have science-based discussions about topics like the fossil remains of birds and of their predecessors, of their subsequent evolution and radiation, phylogeny, classification, biogeography, origin of feathers and molt, origin(s) and evolution of flight, or loss of flight, aspects of physiology unique to birds, bill structure, feeding, nutrition, behaviors and communication, annual cycles and the role of photoperiod, migration or lack thereof, navigation, social behaviors, mating systems, reproduction and development, population dynamics, habitat associations, conservation, extinction, yes extinction….!!    allez allons-y, allons-y  !!!

Whew!  That was a mouthful, eh?

So, about every three years or so, I get frustrated over our lack of science-based discussion on IBLE regarding bird-related topics like those above, with THE Inferred Purpose of IBLE being to find, post, and chase the next year bird, next state bird, next county bird, the next “any list” bird, but especially the next Life Bird, regardless of how many resources we expend, e.g., petroleum.  I’ve been plenty guilty of this as well.  But hey, I’m thankful that IBLE isn’t as bad as it could be, because I know of state listservs that *forbid* posting about our yard birds (good grief), the focus being strictly listing, any and all kinds of listing…. 

Here’s my point, i.e., my lead-in to the notion of a “pair” of hummingbirds, which don’t really exist per se.  Most college textbooks on ornithology discuss “mating systems” and I’m lifting the following list of so called “pair bonds” (systems) and their “known” prevalence (definitions and examples are easy to find on google, wiki, etc.) from one such textbook (Ornithology, Frank Gill, 1994), but these occurrence rates have been changing as we learn more…

Polyandry        fewer than 1% of all bird species

Polygynandry  occurance ?

Polygyny         about 2%

Polygamy         about 3%

Promiscuity      about 6% of all bird species, including hummingbirds, manakins, grouse

Monogamy      predominant avian mating system, but I will note that I’ve seen recent peer-reviewed papers wherein this system is not as prevalent as we had always “thought” it was.  need data.  need input.  need more data and more input.  need analysis of data.  need reanalyses and peer reviews.  need science.

Totally free rant by Larry

No down payment necessary, easy payments of $0, no interest accruing !!   hahahaha