Can't Possibly Imagine

     Without knowing the number of strokes of the wing, the miles traveled, the continent's covered, year after year, it's difficult to understand just how brilliantly designed hummingbirds really are.  There is power in the muscles, tendons and joints of the wings that would make any engineer's jaw drop.  We just can't possibly imagine what kind of design went into creating the married fibers of every individual feather that can withstand the powerful drumming of the wings millions upon millions of times, with very little wear. 
     The mobility of those joints and wings allow for the most incredible and unusual movements for a hummingbird to fly in any direction, and to withstand some of the most fierce battles.  Instant power up, in the blink of an eye, puts an enormous amount of stress on those shoulder muscles, but never seem to break down.
     This just covers a very small but complex piece of the design of hummingbird, without getting into every other magnificent part of their design.  They are incredible in so many ways, and impossible to explain in any.
After a short rest, Ziggy, the adult male Ruby-throat hummingbird, stretches his wings, and gets ready to move on to another location of the garden to stand patrol.
June 14, 2019.  North east of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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