Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/01/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks Doug. Nice to hear from you. Duck down or not they still look COLD! It got me to wondering why their feet don't freeze. One Googles to find answers these days, doesn't one? Here's what came back from Ask A Scientist - Zoology Archive: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/zoo00/zoo00070.htm "Question - I read the answer to the question about duck's feet and have been told that this is because ducks actually produce a form of ethylene glycol in their feet. Have I been taken or does someone know if this is true? I have eaten duck feet in Chinese restaurants and they are definitely sweet (as is ethylene glycol) Any idea? Eileen "Question in archives- Why don't birds' feet freeze in winter? I'm not sure about all birds, but ducks have what is known as a counter current heat exchange mechanism in their legs and feet. Warmth flows from more warmth to less warmth naturally. As blood flows down the legs from the body it meets with colder blood coming back up and the warmth flows into the colder part of the foot. K. Van Hoeck" Amazing. You wouldn't think a body that small could generate enough heat to do the job. I wonder where they find enough calories in the winter to keep the furnace stoked. Regards, Dick On Jan 29, 2008, at 9:53 PM, wildlightphoto@earthlink.net wrote: > Richard Taylor <r.s.taylor@comcast.net> wrote: > >> It snowed a bit last Sunday morning in Woods Hole leaving the place >> to >> the weather and the ducks. These were all with the D300, ISO 200. >> >> Eel Pond - Nikkor 55-200 zoom at 100 mm f16@1/15 VR on. >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/rtaylor/PICKS/CAPE_COD/300_0299.jpg.html >> http://tinyurl.com/2avfwh >> >> Cold Duck, swimming in ice, maybe wishing he'd headed South after >> all. Nikkor 55-200 zoom at 200 mm f5.6 @ 1/100 VR on. >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/rtaylor/PICKS/CAPE_COD/300_0305.jpg.html >> http://tinyurl.com/2hqkax > > The first two are my favorites, really nice work! Mallards are > among the most cold-tolerant of the dabbling ducks, this should be > no problem for him. Duck down is pretty good stuff. > > > > Doug Herr > Sacramento > http://www.wildlightphoto.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information