Hummingbird Optimal Foraging Field ExperimentHummingbird Optimal Foraging Field ExperimentPurpose: demonstrate principles of optimal foraging theory; introduce experimental design and data analysis issues.This is a two week field-lab. Wear drab colored clothing; no bright colors!!The basic design: Students divide into four groups. Each group will do the following, so as a class we will have four replicates of the experiment. Each group will observe a set ofthree hummingbird feeders that all have the same sugar concentration (20%), manipulate the sugar concentrations, and observe the feeders a second time one week later.One week prior to the first lab, we will have hung out the feeders for Hummers to find.Week 1. Settle quietly in the vegetation about 5 meters from the feeders. Do not sit on rattlesnakes, scorpions, ants, etc., or within poison oak! Get as comfortable as you can, because you are going to sit there (quietly!) for an hour and a half. Watch the feeders. Record the number of visits to each feeder, timing the duration of each feeding bout at each feeder. If you have binoculars, try to determine the sex and species of hummer(s) that are using the feeders.After 1 1/2 hours of observations, measure the quantity of nectar missing from each feeder. This is the amount that the hummers drank in the week prior to your observations,plus the amount they drank while you were watching them.Remove each feeder, and pour the excess nectar into an extra container (do not pour it on the ground or you will likely find lots and lots of ants the next time). Fill and re-hang each feeder in the same place. Fill feeder A with 10% nectar, feeder B with 20% nectar, and feeder C with 30% nectar. After you have re-hung each feeder, check that the nectar levels are all at the top of the feeder, and that the wire has sufficient tanglefoot to prevent ants from getting to the feeder.Week 2. Do what you did for week 1, that is observe the birds for 1 1/2 hours and then measure the amount of nectar missing. Then empty the feeders into an extra container, clean up your stuff, and bring the empty feeders and the hanging wires back with you.Timeline: 8 to 8:30 walk in and get comfortable, 8:30 to 10 watch feeders, 10 to 10:45 refill feeders and walk back. We will collate and discuss the results starting at 11.Equipment needed: Funnel, sugar solutions, tanglefoot, ruler, plastic bag, notebooks, pens, and stopwatch. Binoculars.I would suggest you bring water and a small pillow, pad, or extra notebook to sit