Mallard
From Wikipedia
The
Mallard, or
Wild duck (
Anas platyrhynchos[1]), probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks, is a
dabbling duck which breeds throughout the
temperate and
sub-tropical Americas, Europe, Asia, New Zealand (where it is currently the most common duck species), and Australia.
The male birds have a bright green head, while the female's is light brown. The mallard lives in wetlands, eats water plants, and is gregarious. It is also migratory. The mallard is the ancestor of all domestic ducks, and can interbreed with other species of genus Anas. This interbreeding is causing rarer species of ducks to become genetically diluted.
Coot
From Wikipedia
Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the
rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus
Fulica. Coots have predominantly black
plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water. They are close relatives of the
moorhen.
The greatest species variety is in South America, and it is likely that the genus originated there. They are common in Europe and North America.
They have prominent frontal shields or other decoration on the forehead, and coloured bills, and many, but not all, have white on the under tail. Like other rails, they have lobed toes. The featherless shield gave rise to the expression "as
bald as a coot", which the Oxford English Dictionary cites in use as early as 1430.
They tend to have short, rounded wings and are weak fliers, although northern species are nevertheless capable of covering long distances; the
American Coot has reached Great Britain and Ireland on rare occasions. Those species that
migrate do so at night.
Coots can walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces.
These birds are
omnivorous, taking mainly plant material, but also small animals and
eggs. They are aggressively territorial during the breeding season, but are otherwise often found in sizeable flocks on the shallow vegetated lakes they prefer. A flock of coots is known in the US as a cover.
Whooping Crane
From Wikipedia
The
Whooping Crane (
Grus americana), the tallest
North American bird, is an
endangered crane species named for its whooping sound and call. Along with the
Sandhill Crane, it is one of only two crane species found in North America. The whooping crane's lifespan is estimated to be 22 to 24 years in the wild. There is an estimate of only 400+ left in the wild.
Double-crested Cormorant
From Wikipedia
The
Double-crested Cormorant (
Phalacrocorax auritus) is a member of the
cormorant family of
seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas, and is widely distributed across
North America, from the
Aleutian Islands in
Alaska down to
Florida and
Mexico. Measuring 70–90 cm (28–35 in) in length, it is an all-black bird which gains a small double crest of black and white feathers in breeding season. It has a bare patch of orange-yellow facial skin. Five subspecies are recognized.
The Double-crested Cormorant is found near rivers, lakes and along the coastline. It mainly eats
fish and hunts by swimming and diving. Its feathers, like those of all cormorants, are not waterproof and it must spend time drying them out after spending time in the water. Once threatened by use of DDT, the numbers of this bird have increased markedly in recent years.
Canada Goose
From Wikipedia
This species is native to
North America. It breeds in
Canada and the
northern United States in a variety of habitats. Its nest is usually located in an elevated area near water such as streams, lakes, ponds and sometimes on a
beaver lodge. Its eggs are laid in a shallow depression lined with plant material and down. The
Great Lakes region maintains a very large population of Canada Geese.
By the early 20th century, over-hunting and loss of habitat in the late 19th century and early 20th century had resulted in a serious decline in the numbers of this bird in its native range. The Giant Canada Goose subspecies was believed to be extinct in the 1950s until, in 1962, a small flock was discovered wintering in
Rochester, Minnesota, by Harold Hanson of the Illinois Natural History Survey. With improved
game laws and habitat recreation and preservation programs, their populations have recovered in most of their range, although some local populations, especially of the subspecies
occidentalis, may still be declining.
In recent years, Canada Geese populations in some areas have grown substantially, so much so that many consider them
pests (for their droppings, the bacteria in their droppings, noise and confrontational behavior). This problem is partially due to the removal of natural
predators and an abundance of safe, man-made bodies of water (such as on golf courses, public parks and beaches, and in planned communities).
