Birds

1. Birds

2. Birds • Evolved from reptiles • Some groups are: waterfowl, shorebirds, birds of prey, game birds, songbirds, and penguins • Feathers are modified from scales • Feet are covered in scales • Hollow bones – some fused b/c tendons weigh more (penguins don’t have hollow bones – why?)

3. Birds • Very strong pectoral muscles • Endothermic • No bladder (makes them lighter) and urine is very concentrated • Put a lot of energy into attracting mates and reproduction • Beaks are adapted to gather food – varies depending on what it eats

4. Seabirds! • birds that spend a significant part of their lives at sea • waterproof feathers – due to oil from gland above base of tail – rub into feathers w/ beak • eggs more resistant to water loss

5. Seabirds! • nest on land • feed at sea (at least some) • 3% of 8600 species of birds are seabirds • all over globe • many are predators of fish, squid and invertebrates • eat lots to maintain body temp.

6. Penguins • flightless – wings more like flippers • heavier bones – makes diving easier • good swimmers – awkward on land • cold temps. – layer of fat + feathers to trap air • 17 species live at Antarctica – 1 at Galapagos Islands (equator) • food varies – krill to fish and squid • strong beaks • breed in pairs – male incubates eggs while mom goes to eat – after hatching, mom and dad feed (leave babies w/ babysitters – identify by voice when return)

7. Galapagos penguin Emperor Penguin Macaroni penguin Gentoo penguin http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/aqua/emperor-penguin http://www.theanimalfiles.com/birds/penguins/galapagos_penguin.html http://www.tnaqua.org/Newsroom/PenguinPressKit.asp http://www.absc.usgs.gov/research/seabird_foragefish/photogallery/Picture_of_Month/Jun04-YE_Penguin/Jun04-YE_Penguin.htm http://www.worldbirder.com/photonew/xpages/photo.asp?PhotoID=276 http://blather.net/abroad/archives/2008/04/ Yellow-eyed penguin http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,278692,00.html Adelie penguin Fiordland penguin Humboldt penguin

8. Why don’t penguins’ feet freeze? • Controls blood flow to feet – decreased in cold conditions, increased in warmer conditions • Countercurrent system • arteries taking blood to feet give some heat to veins passing by (this keeps penguin from sending blood that is too cold back to the body) • but not all, keeps enough to keep feet a few degrees above freezing to avoid frostbite • also keeps too warm blood from going to feet (feet lose a lot of heat but not if there’s not a lot there!)

9. Tubenoses • large group • tube-like nostrils • heavy beaks – curved at tip • salt glands in nostrils get rid of excess salt • good flyers – catch fish at surface • males and females faithful • 8+ months to incubate and care for chick • ex. albatross, shearwaters, petrels http://www.mvtimes.com/2008/06/26/calendar/birds.php

10. Albatross • Graceful flyer, clumsy on land (big feet) • Uses air currents as flies • Prefers cephalopods for food • Breeds late in life, mates for life – alternates incubating (2-3 weeks at a time) • Make take 10 years to get adult plummage • “albatross” comes from Portuguese word “alcatraz” = any large bird • Some live up to 80 years http://www.landfall-learning.org/envirBirds.htm

11. Pelicans and Allies • webbing b/n all 4 toes • Nest in colonies along coast • Excrement = guano • Guano deposits thick in dry coastal regions and islands – mined for fertilizer

12. Pelicans • Pouch below beak – can hold up to 2 gallons of water • Brown pelican was endangered – pop. numbers lowered by pesticide pollution • Beak full of water is too heavy – have to sit and wait for it to drain before can fly • Feed only their young • Air pockets beneath skin cushion chest and protect pelican from injury when diving http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org/bird_info/brown_pelican.phtml

13. Cormorants • Black w/ long necks • Dive and pursue prey - mainly eats fish • Float low in water – only necks above water • Tail used as a rudder, webbed toes • Fly low • No waterproof oil so has to spread wings to dry them after diving http://www.haryana-online.com/Fauna/Birds/great_cormorant.htm

14. Frigate birds • Used to be used to carry messages • Narrow wings - has largest wingspan – to – weight ratio • Forked tail – uses as rudders • Steal food from other birds Male during breeding season http://www.opentravelinfo.com/south_america/ecuador/galapagos_islands/frigate_bird_galapagos_islands

15. Gulls and Allies • Largest variety • Predators and scavengers (eat almost anything) • Jaegers and skuas – gull-like – steal food from other birds (and will eat other birds!) http://www.oceanwanderers.com/BrwnSkua.html http://blog.thomaslaupstad.com/2007/07/10/photo-of-arctic-skua-parasitic-jaeger-bird/

16. Gulls • Scavengers – will eat whatever they can find • Mates for life – will only find a new mate when old one has died – take turns incubating and feeding • Takes 3 years (molting each year) to get to adult plummage • Rarely allow whole body to go under water http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/common-gull:larus-canus-photo-99.html

17. Terns • Graceful in flight • hover over prey before plunging for it – small fish = main diet • Both incubate but females do most • 43 species http://www.dep.state.fl.us/northwest/Ecosys/section/birdreport.htm

18. Auk family • Short-tailed, short-necked diving birds • 23 species – including puffins and razorbills • Most are dark on top, white bellies • One = great auk  even more like penguin – now extinct (last one died in 1844) http://www.birdcheck.co.uk/main/previewpages/previewpage112.htm

19. Puffins • heavy beaks – change colors during breeding season • Crash lands b/c feet are so far back on body • Mate for life – dig a burrow (or take over abandoned rabbit burrows), put baby in back and take turns incubating egg and then feeding baby • Gulls like to eat their babies – often go out at night to avoid this http://www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/seabird_studies.htm

20. Razorbill • black and white • resembles penguins - fill role of penguin in N. Hemisphere • Awkward on land – feet are for rudders when flying/swimming • Molts all at once = flightless while growing feathers back • Spends majority of life at sea • use wings to swim underwater http://www.neseabirds.com/razorbill.htm

21. Shorebirds • Wading – don’t swim much • More common in estuaries and marshes • Ex. plovers, sandpipers, rails, coots, herons, egrets, and ducks sandpiper http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/common-sandpiper:actitis-hypoleucos-photo-197.html