This family has the strictest pecking order of any social bird.
Members of the flock will always feed in the same order, as established by medical priority and the type of internal preservative, and enforced by their flamboyant head coloration.
The entire process is usually overseen by a phebotomist or Registered Nurse. The flock can be unruly, and the process traumatic, but if the tubes behave well, the human drawing the blood rewards each with a sticker with a happy, uplifting message, such as the patient's name and medical record number. The tubes then wear these stickers for the rest of the day, similar to an "I Voted" or "Best Speller" sticker. It is really quite cute.
All of these birds feed the same way: After inserting a small gaged needle into a peripheral vein, they nestle head-first into small, sheath-like tube, amost like a lilly or honeysuckle blossom.
Impaling their colored stopper plumage onto the stigma of the flower's spike-like pistil, they draw venous blood into their abdomen using air pressure (their abdomen has been evacuated, and the vacuum draws the blood).
Photo Credit MatthewLammers, Wikipedia
Pecking Order - Color - Social Role
1) Sky Blue Phlebotomy: feeds first to assess coagulation
2) Gold Phlebotomy / Tiger Top Phlebotomy: chemistry tests
3) Ruby Red Hememingbird: any tests requiring serum
4) Royal Blue Phlebotomy: detects trace minerals
5) Pale Green Phlebotomy; liver tests
6) Dark Green Phlebotomy: tests for ammonia & calcium
7) Green Heparin: tests for bacteria
8) Lavender Phlebotomy: complete blood count (frequent chemo ward visitor)
9) Bald Phlebotomy: viral tests
10) Flamingo Phlebotomy: for blood typing and blood bank testing
11) Tan Phlebotomy: test for elemental Lead
12) Grey's Phlebotomy: Sugar tests
The Pecking Order, in chart form:
1 comment:
Having spent the past 30+ years in acute care in hospitals, your new perspective and identification of the environment is fascinating. I am truly impressed. Best tomorrow.
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