Poetry and Science: Anhinga

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Melding the study of poetry with the study of science can enhance both science education and science literacy.

When anhinga dive for food, their wings get wet and they pose in the sun to dry their feathers. Viewing several anhinga drying their wings led to a haiku:

Anhinga Haiku
by J S Shipman

The anhinga are
Hanging their wings out to dry
In the Everglades

Here is a photo of a female anhinga.

The audobon society has posted this information on anhinga wing-drying:

"Anhingas [...] have unusually low metabolic rates and unusually high rates of heat loss from their bodies. Whether wet or dry, they exhibit spread-wing postures mostly under conditions of bright sunlight and cool ambient temperatures, and characteristically orient themselves with their backs to the sun. Thus, it appears that Anhingas adopt a spread-wing posture primarily for thermoregulation -- to absorb solar energy to supplement their low metabolic heat production and to offset partly their inordinately high rate of heat loss due to convection and (when wet) evaporation from their plumage."

Source: http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/Wildlife/Birds/Wing_spreading.html; Accessed February 14, 2010.

Here's another photo from today's visit. Perhaps the male, can you tell?:

More anhinga information and photos:

• http://shoutaboutcarolina.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/anhinga-drying-its-wings-hilton-head-sea-pines-forest-preserve.jpg
• http://www.davidmoynahan.com/photoDetails.cfm?projectId=1298&cat=B
• http://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Spread-Wing_Postures.html
• http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/Wildlife/Birds/Wing_spreading.html
• http://www.jstor.org/pss/1367827

(c)2010 J S Shipman

Other poems of Interest:

Shipman, JS
- Calling on You
- Caribbean Cool Jean
- Mental Seeding

Calling on You

Earth is calling loudly with great waves crashing into Florida.
Earth is sweating salty with Chesapeake crabs moving to New York.
Earth is crying sadly with Western desertification: Trees falling.
Earth is bulging cruelly through weak places:
Haitian mangroves down,
Haiti swept into the sea; Dominican's still standing.
Earth is toasting darkly with wars burned/burning here and there.
Liberia rebuilding war torn children.
That war's over, others are still on.
Earth is calling, crying, bulging, toasting.
You hear all that noise, heat, flames and darkness, don't you?
So, change a light bulb, take a walk, don a sweater.
Use less oil, more sunshine and vote wisely.
Earth will smile with medicine, food, clean water, health and peace,
All thank yous for your gifts of thought and time.
J. S. Shipman

Copyright ©2006 JS Shipman

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Dr. Shipman is a research scientist and educator with a passion for helping the public learn how to create a sustainable Earth. Small changes in our lifestyles give us and our descendents clean air, water, green spaces, medicines, health, peace, and the gift of stewardship. Dr. Shipman is founding an organization to assist in achieving these goals. "Dr. J" also asks your support of schools in your area to implement botany in the curriculum. All areas of science and math can be taught using plants and doing so may increase appreciation for the environment.