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The legislative definition of Migratory Birds are species that in the course of their annual Migratory
birds are some of nature’s most magnificent creatures, playing significant ecological, economic, and
cultural roles in the U.S. and internationally. Neotropical migratory birds, sometimes called nearctic-
neotropical migrants, are those species that nest in the United States and Canada ("nearctic" region)
and migrate south to the tropical regions of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean
("neotropics") for the winter. Migration is predicated primarily upon food resources. Since most
insects become unavailable during our harsh winters, insect-eating birds find abundant food resources
in the tropics. Many raptor species also follow this migrating food chain. Over half of all bird species
nesting in the US are classified as neotropical migratory birds. Some or all of the populations of 338
species—which include many of our songbirds, waterfowl, birds of prey, waterbirds and shorebirds—
migrate each fall to the tropics.
migration traverse certain parts of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Russia, or Japan. This includes
not only neotropical (long-distance) migrants, but also temperate (short-distance) migrants and
resident species. Migratory birds may be at risk due to lack of adequate protection during the nesting
season or while on their way to and from their breeding grounds.
The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus Gabula) stands about 6.5 inches high. Also the
Baltimore Oriole has a quite sharply pointed bill. The male has a black
head, back, and wings. The tail is also black on the Baltimore Oriole. It has
orange underpants, tips, and rump. The Baltimore Oriole male has a white wing
bar and edges. The female Baltimore Oriole is totally different though, because
the female has brownish-gray and dull yellow upper- parts. The female has an
orange breast. a gray belly and two wing bars. The immature male is similar to
the Baltimore Oriole female grown up but is a brighter orange and it has
variable amounts of black on its head. The breeding habitat is deciduous
trees, lawns, and the open fields. The clutch size is about three to six eggs. The
length of incubation is about twelve to fourteen days. The days to fledge are
twelve to
fourteen days. The Baltimore Oriole eats mostly insects, but eats
lesser qualities of fruit nectar. In the summer, the Baltimore Oriole
lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, however in the winter it lives in the
southern parts of the United States of America and in Mexico. One
interesting fact about the Baltimore Oriole is that it was named by
Lord Baltimore, a 17th century English Man who founded the Maryland
colony and wore a cloak the colors of orange and black, the colors of
the Baltimore Oriole. The Baltimore Oriole is also the Maryland State
bird. I really like the Baltimore Oriole because of its vivid colors and
its unique body texture that is why I picked the Baltimore Oriole for
my bird.
The bird your about to hear about is the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Its scientific name
is Pheucticus Ludovicianus. The song of the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. sounds like a whistling
noise. Its wingspan is 7.25 inches long. It has a large pale blue breast with a rosy-red patch.
The adult Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. has a rosy-red triangular breast patch, black head, white
under parts, white patches on its wings, white spots on a black tail, and rosy-red wing
linings. The immature Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. is similar to the adult but duller. A similar
species is the Plumaged Black Headed Grosbeak. the Plumaged Black Headed Grosbeak is
different because it has a buffier breast patch. The food source of the Rose-Breasted
Grosbeak. is mainly insects, fruit, seeds, and flowers. Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks live in
woodland areas. They build their nests in mid-story or canopy. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.
has an open-cut nest. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. builds its nest in the mid-story. The
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. Can lay up to 3 to 6 eggs at one time. It takes the Rose-Breasted
Grosbeak. 13 to 14 days for the eggs to hatch. It takes 9 to 12 days for the babies to leave the
nest. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak migrates to Central America and northern South America
in the winter and returns to the northern United States and Canada in the summer. An
interesting fact about the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak is that it is very beneficial to farmers by
consuming many potato beetles.
The number of the winged guests has shown an
upward trend during the last five years, official
sources said. In 1997-98, 35499 migratory birds
were spotted in this wetland which increased to
43,933 next year. This number got doubled to 70,555
in 1999-2000 in comparison to 1997-98. The number
further incresed to 81,848 in 2000-2001 and touched
a high of 1,14,082 in 2001-2002 and last year
it crossed 1.5 lakh.
Humans have always been fascinated and inspired by the phenomenon of bird
migration. In ancient Greece the bird of Athena represented the renewal of life.
A dove, with an olive branch in its beak, returned to Noah's ark to announce the
end of the deadly flood. The dove has remained a symbol of peace and hope.
During the era of the Pharaohs in Egypt, the falcon had protective powers and
was linked to royalty. For the Native Americans birds had different
meanings, but always positive and linked to the concepts of
unity, freedom, community, safe return, love and celebration of life.
In dreams birds embody fantasy, ideas and thoughts. The image of a flying bird
is immediately connected with lightness and freedom, hence the expression
―free as a bird‖. Many people associate flocks of migrating birds in the typical
V-like alignment with the change of season, but also with
perfection, beauty and harmony. Until the 18th century people
believed that swallows sank in mires at the beginning of
autumn and appeared again as amphibians in the following
spring. And still today some parents mark their houses with
painted storks to indicate that a new baby has been born.
In almost all cultures, flocks of birds have announced the
arrival of spring for centuries, and the yearly rebirth of
nature associated with it. The social acceptance of birds as
messengers of life was accompanied by the knowledge that
migration had an important role to play in ecosystem
functioning.
Migratory birds are some of nature’s most magnificent creatures, playing significant
ecological, economic, and cultural roles in the U.S. and internationally. Neotropical migratory
birds, sometimes called nearctic-neotropical migrants, are those species that nest in the United States
and Canada ("nearctic" region) and migrate south to the tropical regions of Mexico, Central
America, South America, and the Caribbean ("neotropics") for the winter. Migration is predicated
primarily upon food resources. Since most insects become unavailable during our harsh
winters, insect-eating birds find abundant food resources in the tropics. Many raptor species also
follow this migrating food chain. Over half of all bird species nesting in the US are classified as
neotropical migratory birds. Some or all of the populations of 338 species—which include many of our
songbirds, waterfowl, birds of prey, waterbirds and shorebirds—migrate each fall to the tropics.
The legislative definition of Migratory Birds are species that in the course of their annual migration
traverse certain parts of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Russia, or Japan. This includes not only
neotropical (long-distance) migrants, but also temperate (short-distance) migrants and resident
species. Migratory birds may be at risk due to lack of adequate protection during the nesting season or
while on their way to and from their breeding grounds.
Indian subcontinent plays host to a number of migratory birds in summers as well as
winters. It is estimated that over hundred species of migratory birds fly to India, either in
search of feeding grounds or to escape the severe winter of their native habitat. The
numerous wildlife sanctuaries set up in the country serve as their temporary habitat. Bird
lovers from all over the country visit these sanctuaries to get a glimpse of some of the
rarest species of birds in the world. The beauty of the birds, combined with the splendor of
the natural environment provides the perfect setting for a nature lover.
Usually, birds start migrating towards other areas when they perceive the tailwind to be
favorable. However, once they start their migration journey, nothing can stop them, except
extremely bad weather. Many birds prefer to fly at a higher altitude while migrating. This is
because winds usually prevail at higher altitudes and at the same time, the cold temperature
at these altitudes helps them in diffusing the body heat, which is generated by their flight
muscles. The timing of the migration is usually a mixture of internal and external stimulus.
My bird is the Ovenbird. The scientific name of the Ovenbird is Seiurus Aurocapillus. It’s
identification marks are it’s size which is 5 ½ to 6 ½ inches tall. Olive-brown stripes cover
this bird’s back. A light orange patch on it’s head can only be seen at a close range. An adult
ovenbird has a white rung around it’s eye. On a young bird the tips of the tail feathers are a
rust color. Sparrows and Ground Dwelling Warblers are birds that resemble the
Ovenbird. Teach, teach, teacher is the song of the Ovenbird. Ovenbirds are found mostly in
the Eastern parts of North America. The Ovenbird eats mostly insects and plant
matter. Domed nests can be found on the ground or in deciduous and evergreen trees. A
nest is shaped like an old-fashion oven. An Ovenbird breeds from Central Canada South to
Northern Georgia. Ten days later the Ovenbirds will fledge. It takes 22 days for the eggs to
hatch. The Ovenbird lays 4 to 6 white eggs in a nest. I learned many interesting facts about
the Ovenbird. One fact is the Ovenbird is some times called the teacher bird. Another
interesting fact is the secret way they hide their nest on the ground. Researching the
Ovenbird was fun.
The Canada Goose is a great bird to research. It’s scientific name is Branta Canadensis. I like
learning about it because it stays here in the summer time from Canada. In the winter they
go to Florida in a V- shape. The color of it is a dark gray, brown and the neck is black with
white cheeks. The tail is white at the bottom and black at the tip. The length of it is 25 to 45
inches, and it weighs 6 to 9 pounds. The wing span is 4 to 9 feet. Similar species of the
Canada Goose are the Snow Goose and the Tundra Swan. In the winter the Canada Goose
lives in Florida where the weather is warm. However, in the spring of the year this migratory
bird moves to the Northern part of the country where it breeds. It builds it’s nest of muskrat
houses on tree stumps and in lakes and ponds. They build them close to other geese. The
Canada Goose eats grain, crops, grass and other vegetation,mollusks and crustaceans on
shores. The female lays 6 to 8 eggs in a nest. It takes 17 days for the eggs to hatch. After 42
days the young leave their nest. This is called fledging. These geese mate for life which
means they stay with the same partners until they die. The young babies are called
goslings. After doing much research on this interesting bird, I learned many interesting
facts. One fact is large geese honk while small geese cackle. The Canada Goose can be seen
flying in New York skies forming a V shape. I have enjoyed researching the Canada goose.
My bird is the Northern Pintail. The Northern Pintail lives in the United States and north. Its
scientific name is Anas Acuta. It is 18.5 inches tall. Its wingspan is 35 inches wide. The male
has brownish-blackish feathers with a white stripe down the middle. The birds neck is pure
white. Its bill is pure black, along with its tail. It also has a brownish –blackish head, too. The
female has a white stripe down middle , but the female has yellowish feathers. It also
orangish-yellowish head. The female also has a black bill and tail. Just like the male does. The
immature birds upper parts are brown and black, and it has white stripes on itsback. The
Northern Pintails habitat is near any kind of salt water. Like the ocean, sea or anything like
that. It nests in a grassy area near salt water and its nest is a bowl of flat grass. It is a
vegetarian with a diet of vegetables, grass, and seeds. The Northern Pintail breeds in the
central United States. It lays 6 to 9 olive eggs, in its bowl of flat grass. It takes the eggs 22
to 25 days to hatch into the new world. When the immature bird hatches from the egg, it
takes 36 to 57 days to leave their parents and their nest. An interesting fact about my bird is
that it burps to attract a female. Another interesting fact about my bird is that it got its
name by because it breeds in the north and it is a pintail. That’s why they call it the Northern Pintail.
The Black-Throated Green Warbler’s (Dendroica Virens) upper parts are olive green. The throat and sides of the
breast is black. The face is yellow. It has greenish cheeks. The female and immature bird has no black on the
throat or upper breast. The throat of the female and the immature bird sometimes has black spots on it. It
stands about 4 and a half inches tall. It has dark legs and a thin pointed beak. Some birds that resemble my bird
are the Hermit Warbler, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black Burnian Warbler, Townsend Warbler, Cap May
Warbler, the Palm Warbler and the Magnolia Warbler. They resemble mine because they all have yellow faces
with black on them. It lives in the pine forests of central and southeastern Canada, and open stands of hemlock.
They are found in the United States near the Great Lakes, throughout New England and down through the
Appalachian Mountains, south to Georgia. It has been seen from Florida to Texas, south to northern South
America and in the West Indies. In the summer the Black –Throated Green Warbler lives in the Northwest
Territories, Ontario, Newfoundland, south to northern New Jersey, Long Island, Ohio, Minnesota, Alberta and in
the mountains of Georgia. Its nest is made out of grass, moss, plant fibers, hair, and feathers. My bird normally
eats insects and berries. It lays about 5 eggs that have speckled brown dots on them. It takes the baby
warblers 12 days to hatch. It takes of on flight 9 days after they are hatched. An interesting fact about the
Black-Throated Green Warbler is that it is the commonest warbler in migration. Another interesting fact is that
its distinctive song is easy to learn. ( zee- zee- zee-zoo-zee )
The name of my bird that I am researching is the Mallard duck. The
scientific name of this bird is Anas Platyrhynchos . It’s green head
usually gives it away. The male Mallard has a gray back, chestnut
breast, yellow bill, green head, gray flanks, and a white ring around
it’s neck. The habitat of the bird is
marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, and bays. It has a clucth size is 6-15
eggs, the length of incubation is 24-30 days and time until the babies
leave the nest is usually 42-60 days. It eats roots, wild
flowers, reeds, cat tails, duck weed, seeds, millet, rice, smart
weed, plants, and insects. It breeds on open water. It breeds in the
Northeastern United States. It flies from Texas to New York just to
mate. It is related to a bird that burps. It also nests in a tree while
only few ducks do.
My bird is the Common Merganser. It’s scientific name is Mergus Merganser. It has a
wingspan of 37 inches and a length of 18 inches. The male has a green head, which often
looks black, and a white breast, flanks, and belly. It has white sides and a red long pointed bill
with serrated edges to help catch slippery fish. The female has a gray body and brownish
crested head with a white throat and a well-defined white chin. It also has a sleek tapered
crest, which is more obvious on females than it is males. The Common Merganser eats
mostly fish but it eats smaller quantities of aquatic invertebrates. It nests in tree cavities or
on the ground near water. It sometimes will nest in an abandoned hawk’s nest. The Common
Merganser lives near wooded rivers and ponds. The Common Merganser is found in
Southeastern Alaska, Manitoba, and Newfoundland, South to Northern New
England, Michigan, and California. In the winter they are found in southern to northern
Mexico and sometimes in the Gulf coast. The Common Merganser breeds in wetlands and
open water. It’s clutch size ranges from 6 to 17 eggs. The length of incubation goes from 28
to 35 days. It takes 65 to 85 days to fledge. An interesting fact is that many Common
Mergansers were shot because it was thought that they destroyed valuable game fish. We
now understand that the Common Merganser is beneficial by helping to prevent
overpopulation of fish, which helps the surviving fish become greater in size.
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