Bird anatomy Birds have a four-chambered heart, in common with mammals, and some reptiles (mainly the crocodilia). This adaptation allows for an efficient nutrient and oxygen transport throughout the body, providing birds with energy to fly and maintain high levels of activity. A ruby-throated hummingbird's heart beats up to 1200 times per minute (about 20 beats per second). Many birds possess a muscular pouch along the esophagus called a crop. The crop functions to both soften food and regulate its flow through the system by storing it temporarily. The size and shape of the crop is quite variable among the birds. Members
Polish Society for the Protection of Birds Polish Society for the Protection of Birds Polish Society for the Protection of Birds, OTOP (from Polish name: Ogólnopolskie Towarzystwo Ochrony Ptaków) – Non-governmental organization set up in Poland in 1991. Among OTOP's tasks are preserving wild living birds, their nests, gathering information about them and study their life. Furthermore, OTOP popularize ornithology among people from various social groups and different ages. OTOP is the Polish partner to BirdLife International. When Gerard Sawicki was the president of society, he run the TV program "Ptakolub(birdlover)" transmitted on TVP1 at the end of the 20th century. The current president of society is