SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | 5A
Community Voices
Natural Perspective — Flashes of Winter
By Emily J. Uhrig, Ph.D
Special to Siuslaw News
T
he holidays are over,
and winter is in full
swing. With cloudy skies
overhead and the blooms
of spring still weeks away,
this time of year can seem
rather drab.
Keep an eye on your
yard, however, and you
may spot flashes of bril-
liant amethyst — the ir-
idescent throats of male
Anna’s hummingbirds.
While other humming-
bird species in our area
typically migrate to warm-
er places during winter,
Anna’s hummingbirds are
year-round Oregon resi-
dents. But how does a bird
weighing less than a quar-
ter of an ounce, about the
weight of a nickel, survive
chilly nights that keep us
indoors by the fireplace?
The answer: a strategy
called “torpor,” a type of
short-term hibernation.
Hummingbirds
are
known for their high me-
tabolisms and energetic
flight that involves wings
flapping as much as 50
times each second.
Their hearts beat over
a 1,000 times per minute
during flight and, even at
rest, only slow to about 250
beats per minute — four
times higher than a typical
human’s resting heart rate.
To support their ener-
getic lifestyle, humming-
birds consume more than
their body weight in nec-
tar each day. Their tiny
bodies don’t store much
fat, so they must feed near-
ly constantly to keep going
and are often described as
“living on the edge of star-
vation.”
Since
hummingbirds
don’t feed after dark,
maintaining their metabo-
lism during cold nights is
especially problematic.
This is when entering
torpor is useful.
When air temperature
drops at night, the hum-
mingbird perches motion-
less on a branch; its metab-
olism and heart rate slow
dramatically as torpor be-
gins. Its body temperature,
normally around 104 °F,
falls as much as 50 degrees.
The hummingbird be-
comes semi-comatose and
remains immobile even
when gently poked by in-
quisitive researchers. In
this state of torpor, the
hummingbird burns much
less energy, enabling it to
survive until its next meal.
As temperatures rise in
the morning, the hum-
mingbird emerges from
torpor; its body rewarms,
and the bird buzzes about
its daily business having
successfully weathered an-
other cold night.
So, as we share a winter
with Anna’s humming-
birds, consider hanging a
feeder to help these hardy
little birds top off their
fuel tanks. Whether your
nectar is homemade (1
part refined white sugar
to 4 parts water) or store
bought, it’s best to avoid
red dyes.
The added coloration is
unnecessary and may ac-
tually be harmful to the
birds. Just hang a feeder
with clear nectar and watch
for Anna’s hummingbirds
bringing welcome color to
the gray skies.
To your health — Benefits of stroke survivor groups
Tracy Markley
Special to Siuslaw News
W
ith the nearest sup-
port
group
for
stroke recovery being in
Springfield, many have ap-
proached me regarding the
need for a closer more con-
vent group to attend.
Ginny Verville
So, the first meeting of
the Florence Oregon Stroke
Survivor Support Group
will be held Thursday, Feb.
20, at 3 p.m. at the Siuslaw
Public Library.
Fifteen million people
worldwide suffer stroke
each year. Each stroke sur-
vivor faces their own unique
physical, mental and emo-
tional challenges. A support
group gives the opportunity
for survivors to share their
struggles, successes, con-
cerns, hopes, strengths and
weakness.
The warm acceptance in
a support group can help
bring comfort and hope in
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the challenging times stroke
brings
into
someone’s
world. Often, survivors
feel alone and/or people do
not really understand their
struggle.
Suddenly, a person’s life
just changes in an instant;
the effect of stroke ranges in
many different levels.
All are life changing.
A support group helps
survivors to gather with
others that relate to their
experience and changes.
They also learn from one
another.
There will be speakers of
different sources that may
bring great care and knowl-
edge to help survivors and
their caregivers as well.
I have worked with sur-
vivors in recovery when
their physical therapy ends
for quite some time now. I
serve on the Education Ad-
visory Board for the Medfit
Foundation and I have cre-
ated the Stroke Recovery
INATE US
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Moral of the story
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DENTURE SERVICES INC.
By Karen Nichols
Special to Siuslaw News
Isn’t it nice here in Flor-
ence where everything
is a hop, skip and a jump
away?
I exercise regularly and
swim about a mile a day.
It’s sort of a water ballet,
as I move gracefully across
the pool, waving my arms
in the air and bobbing my
head from side to side. I
run, jump, hop and skip
with the greatest of ease.
After a year, I noticed
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and Exercise CEC Course
for fitness professionals.
There is a strong need for
fitness professionals to fur-
ther their education so they
can help survivors further
their recovery.
There is not a limited
time frame on recovery. Re-
covery progress and gains
can continue for years. I
have written two books on
stroke recovery and exercise
that have helped survivors
worldwide.
I hope to help the Flor-
ence Support Group be-
come a strong and helpful
source for survivors and
caregivers in our communi-
ty and nearby communities.
If you are a survivor or
a caregiver to a friend or
loved one who is a survivor,
please come join us at our
first meeting.
If all goes well we will
hold the meetings the third
Thursday of the month at 3
p.m.
William Foster LD
Sherry, Offi ce Manager
“As a denture wearer myself,
I can answer your
questions and address
your denture concerns.”
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that the pains in my neck
had decreased. While at
the chiropractor’s, I men-
tioned it.
“Would you show me
those exercises?” he asked.
Sliding off his table,
I raised my arms, lifted
one leg and proceeded to
hop, or pathetically barely
budge off the floor.
I tried hopping when I
got home. Odd? When did
I lose my ability to hop?
When my grandchil-
dren came to visit, I was
reading to the three and
a half-year-old. We came
to the part when the char-
acters were playing hop-
scotch, “Grandma! Can we
play hopscotch?”
My eyes rolled. “Sure.
Let’s try it.”
With rocks for lagers,
Grandma attempted to
show the three-year-old
how to hop. My example
was material for America’s
Funniest Home Videos.
Don’t you hate it when a
three-year-old makes you
look bad?
I coaxed a hop or two
out of this old body. My
grace equaled the skills I
possessed when I was two,
teetering and flailing.
Ralph came outside.
“Quit before you fall and
break something.” He am-
bled inside shaking his
head. “I can’t watch this
disaster waiting to hap-
pen.”
With slight improve-
ment, I completed the
game without injury.
Do you suppose I could
train in the next few
months and be up to a
hopscotch game with the
four-year-old the next
time she comes?
Moral of the Story:
When you’re only a hop,
skip and a jump away —
maybe you should walk...