Jennifer Cooper
American Intercontinental University
Unit 1 Individual Project
Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s Color Preferences
11/17/13
Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s Color Preferences
Introduction:
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are found primarily in the middle to eastern part of the United States. They are the only hummingbirds found in this region. Birds.audubon.org, (2013) states they are quick little birds that are always in motion and they are approximately nine centimeters in size. Bastone (2012) shared they are the only birds can that hover in one place and can fly up to thirty mile per hour. Like other hummingbirds, they mainly eat nectar from flowers. Do the hummingbirds prefer some colors over others when selecting flowers for feeding?
Hypothesis:
If red flowers are present; then birds will ignore other colored flowers in the area. Prediction: If the birds flock to the red flowers more than other colors; then they select their food based on color.
Controlled Experimental Method: This test will include three bird feeders made of the same material, same size, placed at the same height but three different colors; red, blue, and green. Hummingbird feeders are made of glass or plastic. The feeders will be hung outside in the bird’s normal feeding environment near the woods. All three feeders will be filled with the same source and amount of water and equal amounts of sugar so that only the color will differentiate them apart. The feeders will be hung out for one week and observed at the same times of day. The times chosen were morning and dusk; 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Results:
Since this is a "thought experiment," you will make up results according to what you think might happen if you actually did the experiment. Results should include detailed raw data (numbers) rather than just a summary of the results. For example, if data are collected daily for five weeks, results should include the actual data from each day, and not just a summary of what happened at the end of the five weeks. Recorded results should match the experimental method.
Conclusion:
In this section, state clearly whether you reject or accept the hypothesis based on the (pretend) results. Discuss what this means in terms of the hypothesis, such as the need for additional experiments, or the practical uses or implications of the results.
References
Bastone, K. (2012). The Secret Lives of Hummingbirds. National Parks, 86(4), 26-27.
Birds.audubon.org/birds/ruby-throated-hummingbird. (2013). Retrieved from http://birds.audubon.org /birds/ruby-throated-hummingbird
Hummingbird. (2013). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/eds/detail?vid=3&sid=b94b0b28-24ae-4b7e-a56e-0a48ff41e611%40sessionmgr11&hid=17&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdm Umc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=39012561
“Hummingbird Feeders.” Hummingbirds.net. N.p., n.d. Web 15 Nov. 2013. Retrieved from http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html
