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Waterfowls
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Distribution:
North America
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Habitat: Marsh, lake, pond, stream.
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Mating: Monogamous
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Peak Breeding Activity: April
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Clutch Size: 5-9 eggs; 5 is average.
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Young Leave Parents: At one year.
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Adult Weight: 20-30 pounds
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Life Expectancy: 20-30 years
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Migration Pattern: Year-round resident
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Typical Foods: Tubers and leaves of submergent and emergent
aquatic vegetation
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Waterfowl are a mixed flock, ranging from ducks and geese to loons
and mergansers. Wild ducks and geese often migrate distances and are
seen in the wide areas of North America. Their varied plumage makes
them relatively easy to identify and wonderful to observe. Over the
years, men have hunted waterfowl, captured them, tamed and domesticated
them. There are over 52 species of ducks common to North America,
including the common mallard and teal, and rarer species like the
white-headed duck. Waterfowl are now the most prominent and economically
important group of migratory birds of the North American continent.
By 1985, approximately 3.2 million people were spending nearly $1
billion annually to hunt waterfowl. By 1985, interest in waterfowl
and other migratory birds had grown in other arenas as well. About
18.6 million people observed, photographed, and otherwise appreciated
waterfowl and spent $2 billion for the pleasure of doing it. |
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| Bird rescue & bird adoption;
parrot refuge/rescue & placement for unwanted birds. |
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| Check out our list of local
birds broken down by your state and different types of
species. |
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| Migrating birds stay on track
because of chemical reactions in their bodies that are
influenced by the Earth's magnetic field... |
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Part
I
November
19, 2004