> That information is easily found by searching for "the fastest-known
> reflex in the animal kingdom" on Google:
> http://www.everglades.national-park.com/bird.htm
> 
> but that doesn't make it so.  Nor does the repetition of the same
> information in any text.  When and where and by whom was it measured?
> Which animal was the runner up? 
> 
> Searching only for "fastest reflex" led me to:
> http://www.theoceanadventure.com/Kids%20Page/amazing.html
> 
> where it's reported that the Frogfish ("the world's fastest reflex
> feeders, @1/400 second," i.e. 2.5 milliseconds) would have time to have
> breakfast, lunch, and dinner before the Wood Stork had even begun :)
> 
> As with all things, there is room for healthy skepticism. Recently, it was
> revealed that the recommendation to drink 8 glasses of water a day as part
> of a healthy lifestyle was based on one mention in an obscure report and
> had no scientific basis in fact. Thru sheer repetition in the media,
> however, it took on the mantle of truth over the years.  Be careful out
> there :)
> 
> Back to birds:
> At lunchtime walks thru Parklawn cemetery, I have twice been entertained
> by a Y-B sapsucker.  I was amazed to watch the bird walk backwards down
> the trunk of a large tree.  It also emitted a hawk like "keeeer" call
> which could be heard for quite a distance.  I found a fascinating
> Smithsonian web article on the life history of the Y-B sapsucker which I
> can highly recommend:
> 
> http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Life_Histo
> ry/default.cfm?id=56
> 
> To get to the life history article click on the link:  "Bird of the month
> article"
> 
> Jim Speicher
> Jspeicher-at-niaid.nih.gov
> Rockville @work :(
> Broad Run_S. FRED Co @home :)
> 
> 
>