Hummingbirds: Physiology, 3D Navigation, and Nesting Secrets | More to Explore | Live Events | Explore.org
Hummingbirds: Physiology, 3D Navigation, and Nesting Secrets | More to Explore
Published on: Apr. 7 2026
In this episode of "More to Explore," we get a closer looking in the lives of hummingbirds with our special guest, Sheri Williamson.
Featured Guest: Sheri Williamson, Director of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO) and author of the Peterson Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America. Sheri joins Host Mike Fitz to discuss her upcoming research and provide actionable tips for supporting hummingbird populations in your own backyard.
Episode Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to More to Explore 01:25 Featured Cam: Meet the Joy and Beatrix Hummingbird Chicks 03:17 Interview: Sheri Williamson (Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory) 09:40 The Physics of Flight: Wing Mechanics and Figure-Eight Movement 10:35 Extreme Physiology: Heart Rate, Breathing, and Protein Adaptations 12:32 The Sugar Secret: How Hummingbirds Process Fructose Differently 17:23 Avian Intelligence: Comparing Hummingbird and Human Brains 21:57 Advanced Neurology: How Hummingbirds Navigate in 3D Space 27:44 The "Four-to-One" Nectar Recipe: Best Practices 30:02 Habitat Gardening: Top Plants for Hummingbirds (Salvia & More) 31:31 Conservation Status: Range Expansion vs. Population Declines 37:30 Preview: Sheri Williamson’s New Hummingbird Field Guide 46:25 Egg Watch 2026: Hummingbirds 47:06 Egg Watch 2026: Spoonbills and Wading Birds 48:55 Egg Watch 2026: Peregrine Falcons 50:34 Egg Watch 2026: Bald Eagles 56:06 Upcoming Live Events on explore.org 57:04 Special Segment: NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission Observations
Related Live Cams & Resources: Joy’s Nest (Anna's Hummingbird): https://explore.org/livecams/hummingbirds/joy-hummingbird-santee
Explore.org Live Events Calendar: https://explore.org/event-calendar
About More to Explore: A bi-weekly series dedicated to deep-diving into animal behavior and conservation. Hosted by Brian Byrd and Mike Fitz, we use the explore.org live camera network to bring you closer to nature’s most fascinating stories.
More to Explore showcases the best of explore.org. Join us for conversations and interviews with scientists and conservation experts, to see rare events and animal hijinks caught on camera, to gain insight into the lives of wildlife, and look behind-the-scenes at our collection of of 200+ live nature cams.
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