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CANADIAN WATERS |  |
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 Creature Feature!
Birds!There are approximately 9000 species of birds comprising 27 orders. Birds have many features that render them well adapted for flying. They have hollow bones, modified forelimbs (wings), internal air sacs (for breathing), a keeled breastbone which has strong flight muscles attached to it and feathers. There are two types of feathers: Down and Contour. Down feathers are used for insulation against heat loss. Contour feathers are the large feathers found on a birds body and wings. The contour feathers on a birds wings are flat to provide a good flying surface. Why do birds live near the ocean?There are many types of birds that live near the ocean. Some birds nest near the ocean, others find food in the ocean and others use ocean resources as they migrate across the globe.
Kingdom: Animalia
Auks and Otheres (Alcids) - Family AlcidaeAlcids are seabirds that are black and white in colour. They live in the northern hemisphere and spend much of their time on or near the water. They are similar to penguins (from the southern hemisphere) because they dive underwater using their wings as flippers, but they can also use them to fly (penguins cannot fly). They have short necks and short beaks. These birds like to eat fish, crustaceans, molluscs and algae. Their range includes the North Atlantic, North Pacific and the Arctic Ocean. The are 22 species worldwide, with only 6 species living in the east.
Birds of Prey - Hawks, Eagles, Etc. - Family AccipitridaeThis family consists of birds of prey. These birds have hooked claws and beaks. Many of the members in this group travel to the ocean and its coastal marshes to find food. They range almost worldwide, with 208 species. Eagles
Eagles are birds of prey with sharp beaks and claws. The diet of the bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus consists mainly of dead or dying fish. When fish is not available they eat Carrion and small mammals and birds. The Bald Eagle comes from the Family Ernes (the sea eagles). It is primarily brown in colour and after its third year the head, neck and tail are completely white. The bald eagle attains a length of 30 to 36 inches and and a wing span of approximately six feet. Bald Eagles build their nests of sticks high up in the trees. The same pair of birds will tend the same nest for many years. There are usually two eggs produced and the young will live in the same area as their parents.
HawksThe hawk is a common name for many birds of prey. There are 48 species of true hawks. Two species found in North America are the Cooper's hawk and the shark-shinned hawk. In both species the female is the larger of the sexes. The Cooper's hawk grows to a length of 36-51 cm, (14-20 inches). Hawks are the main avian (referring to birds) predators of smaller birds in North America. Hawks build their nest high in trees like most birds of prey. Their nests are big and bulky and are made out of twigs, sticks, leaves and bark. The young are covered in white down feathers and they are fed by the parents until they can hunt for themselves.
Ospreys
The Osprey, Pandion haliaetus is found on every continent except for Antarctica. It has a wingspan of 4.5 to 6 feet (22-25 inches). Its colouring is dark brown on top and white on the bottom. The osprey has a white head with a very noticeable black eye stripe. Like Bald Eagles they nest high up in trees, on cliffs and on artificial sturctures such as hydro poles etc....They lay 3 to 4 eggs that hatch after approximately 30 days.
Cormorants - Family PhalacrocoracidaeCormorants are black water birds. They eat fish and crustaceans with a long tip-hooked bill. They occur in most parts of the world. There are 30 species worldwide. These birds are found most often in estuaries and on open ocean waters. After diving into the water for fish they will spread their wings out for a long time to dry them off.
DucksDucks are aquatic birds, that have webbed feet. They are amazing swimmers and they prefer to look for food in the water, rather than on land. Their diet consists of aquatic plants, seeds, grass, small aquatic animals and insects. Ducks occur on all continents except for Antarctica. Northern ducks are highly migratory. The courtship between male and female ducks can be quite extensive and it is unique to each species. Most nests are built on the ground and can have between 20 to 12 eggs inside them. When the ducklings hatch they are able to feed themselves and swim shortly after birth. Here are the colour differences between a female and a male mallard duck:
There are several types of ducks: marsh ducks, diving ducks and sea ducks. Each of these types has unique specialties and features. Marsh ducks for example are surface feeding ducks that live in creeks, ponds and marshes (fresh and salt). The male tends to be very colourful.
MergansersMergansers are a type of duck that like to dive for fish. Their bill is longer and thinner acting like a spear for catching fish. They have thinner bodies that most ducks.
Loons - Family Gaviidae
Loons are swimming and diving birds, with a very pointed beak. They enjoy eating small fish, crustaceans (such as crabs or crayfish) and other types of aquatic life. They catch their aquatic prey by poking their head under the water or diving under to chase it. There are 4 species worldwide.
Grebes - Family Podicipedidae
Grebes are diving birds that look like ducks. They have long thin necks and small heads. Grebes have lobed toes, which help them swim more efficiently. Their diet includes small fish, crustaceans, tadpoles and insects. There are 20 species worldwide.
Geese
Geese are similar to swans although they have heavier bodies. Their necks are much longer than those of ducks and they like to graze for food on land more than ducks do. Geese enjoy eating grasses, seeds and aquatic plants.
Arctic breeding populations of many goose species are being recorded at very high levels. The over-abundant geese are ruining breeding habitat in the arctic and causing crop damage in wintering areas. The habitat they occupy during the summer is the fragile arctic lowlands. This fragile environment needs time to recover or populations of other wildlife will be affected.
Swans
Shearwaters - Family ProcellariidaeThese birds look a lot like sea gulls. Their beaks however have a tube-like nostril. Their diet consists of fish, squid, crustaceans and ship Refuse.
Storm Petrels - Family HydrobatidaeThese birds are small, dark and fast. They fly right over the ocean. They nest on sea islands like shearwaters and others. Their diet consists of plankton, crustaceans and small fish. There are 21 species worldwide.
Gannets - Family SulidaeGannet are large seabirds with pointed tails and long beaks. Their diet consists of fish and squid, which they get by diving into the water from the air. There are 9 species living worldwide in cold seas.
Jeagers - Family StercorariidaeThese seabirds are similar to hawks and falcons, with a small hook on the end of their beaks. In the arctic they eat lemmings, eggs and young birds. At sea they take food from the water and other birds. There are 5 species worldwide.
Gulls and Terns - Family LaridaeThese seabirds are good flyers. They have long wide wings. They are Omnivorous with diet consisting of assorted marine life, plant and animal food, refuse and carrion. There are 45 species worldwide.
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Herons - Family Ardeidae Herons are wading birds. They walk through shallow water and spear fish and other aquatic creatures with their sharp beaks. Their diet includes fish, frogs, crawfish/crayfish, other aquatic life, mice and insects. There are 59 species worldwide, living in most areas except very cold regions and some deserts and islands.
These are birds shaped like small hens, they are very secretive marsh birds. Their diet consists of aquatic plants, seeds, buds, insects, frogs, crustaceans and molluscs.
These birds are similar to ducks. They look more like hens, but they spend most of their time in the water. They also feed on shore. Their diet is similar to that of ducks. One noticeable feature that they possess is a shield on their head above the beak.
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These are small wading shore birds. They are similar to sandpipers, with larger eyes. They run along the beach looking for food, dodging the surf. Their diet consists of small marine life, insects and some plant matter. There are 63 species worldwide.
Did You Know?... that the piping plover is an endangered species?
Read the fact sheet on this unique species prepared by the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Hinterland Who's Who Publications (Canadian Wildlife Service) on: Piping
Plover.
These are shore birds that are similar to plovers. They also run along the beach dodging the surf looking for food. Their diet consists of insects, crustaceans, molluscs, worms etc . . . There are 80 species worldwide.
Sandpipers are birds with long, flat, pointed wings, long bills, long legs and a short tail. Many species have elaborate mating and courtship displays. They nest in depressions in the ground or in the nests made by other birds in trees.
Semipalmated Sandpipers migrate through the Bay of Fundy Region on Canada's east coast every year. These birds depend on the mudflats in this area for their survival. Approximately 75 to 95 percent of the world's population of this species travel to the Bay of Fundy during their migration. Their diet of Fundy Mud Shrimp is very important to their health. The sandpipers stay in the Bay of Fundy for approximately six weeks and it is an amazing sight to see.
Hinterland Who's Who Publications (Canadian Wildlife Service) on: Semipalpated Sandpiper.
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These birds are a lot like sandpipers. They eat plankton, marine invertebrates, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and insects. There are three species worldwide.
These are nocturnal birds of prey with large flat heads, eyes that face forward, hooked bills, hooked sharp claws and feathered feet. Their diet consists of rodents, birds, reptiles, fish and large insects. There are 134 species worldwide.
LinksCanadian Wildlife Service Programs - Information on conservation of birds
in Canada
http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/index_e.cfm
Ducks Unlimited Canada
http://www.ducks.ca/
Ducks of the World - Information on several species of ducks
http://www.utm.edu/departments/ed/cece/ducks.shtml
Hinterland Who's Who Publications (Canadian Wildlife Service) on Shorebirds
Shorebirds
Species, Age and Sex Identification of Ducks Using Wing Plumage - Good information
for High School Projects.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/tools/duckplum/duckplum.htm
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Birding in Canada
http://www.web-nat.com/bic/
Birding Vancouver and Vancouver Island
http://www.bavarianbirds.de/bc/index.html
Bird Life International - Canadian Bird Links
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/links/links.jsp?page=l_can
Bird Studies Canada:
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/bscmain.html
Canadian National Parks:
http://www.parkscanada.ca
Ducks Unlimited Canada
http://www.ducks.ca/
East Coast Birds
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/nsbirds/index.htm
Endangered Species in Canada
http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/faune/faune/html/threatened_birds.html
Peterson, Roger Tory. 1980. Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 384pp.
Types of Birds - Sandpipers:
http://birding.miningco.com/msub1-sandpipers.htm
New Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus. 1992. Lexicon Publications, Inc., Danbury, CT
Artwork:
Clipart by the Corel Corporation
Original Art by Jennifer Lalonde
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Created: 2001-06-08 Updated: 2005-01-27 Reviewed: 2003-09-03 |
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Puffins are very interesting birds. They congregate in huge numbers during
breeding season in the summer months and in the winter they live in small groups
or alone. Puffins will keep the same mate for life. If no offspring are produced
after many years the couple will separate and look for new mates. The puffin
uses its beak to dig a 2 foot deep nest in the ground, while using its feet
to kick the dirt out of the hole.
Swans are large white aquatic birds with very long necks. They
eat aquatic plants and seeds. They range all over the world with
145 species.
Gulls