Loons
Loons will dive as deep as 150 feet in search of food. How long can a loon stay underwater?
Up to 5 minutes
What feature distinguishes a male from a female wood duck?
The males have green heads
Great Blue Herons are known for their tall, lanky stature. How tall is a typical heron?
4 feet
What bright color is the bill of an adult merganser?
Red
While migrating, what formation to Canada Geese fly in?
A V-formation
Loons spend their summers in the northern wetlands of the US and Canada. Where do they migrate to?
The coast! Depending on where they are migrating from, loons will spend their winters along the Pacific Coast, Atlantic Coast, or the Gulf of Mexico. See blue portions of the map.
How many broods will a wood duck have annually?
Either 1 or 2. They are the only duck in North America that will regularly produce 2 broods a year, but typically only in warmer climates.
What body part will herons use as a tool for fishing?
Their bills! They can use their bill like a spear to impale larger fish or amphibians.
True or False: Merganser pairs stay together to raise their ducklings.
False! Unlike the loons, geese, and herons, merganser hens are the sole-provider for their babies.
What do Canada Geese eat?
Mostly grasses, seeds, corn, agricultural grains, and berries
Despite their size and shape, loons are skilled fliers. How fast can a loon fly?
Up to 70 miles per hour
True or False: Wood ducks can perch and nest up in trees.
True! Unlike most ducks, they have sharp claws that allow them to hang on to branches. They often use abandoned woodpecker holes or other hole in a tree as their nest cavity, as high as 60 feet off the ground.
How much does an average Great Blue Heron weigh?
Between 5 and 6 pounds! Their hollow legs may be long, but are very light-weight.
Name 3 predators of a merganser duckling.
Owls, hawks, bald eagles, loons, and northern pike will all prey on baby mergansers.
True or False: All Canada Geese migrate south for the winter.
False! As long as there is open water and food available, geese can withstand extremely cold conditions. Geese living in Southern Canada and Northern US will often only migrate short distances or not at all. See purple area on migration map.
What common kitchen appliance is a loon comparable in size to?
A microwave! Loons are between 26 and 36 inches long and weigh between 5 and 13 pounds (depending on their age).
What human-made item has aided efforts to conserve the wood duck population?
Predator-resistant nest boxes
What is the greatest threat that Great Blue Herons face?
Habitat loss
Common mergansers have sharp serrations on their bills to help grasp onto fish. This feature results in what nickname for these ducks?
Sawbills
They hiss, listen here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/sounds
True or False: Loons have hollow bones.
False! Unlike most birds, loons have solid bones. This makes them less buoyant and enables them to dive deep underwater.
Female wood ducks are known to lay eggs in another duck's nest, leaving them to be raised by a different mother. What is this practice called?
Egg-dumping
Name 3 predators of the Great Blue Heron.
Hawks, bears and eagles are predators of adult herons, while raccoons and crows will eat their eggs.
How can pesticides and toxic metals impact the survival of common mergansers?
Chemicals have been known to thin their eggshells, leading to lower survival rates. Pollutants can also reduce the amount of prey (insects and fish) available.
Geese are often found inhabiting parks or golf courses. What factors make these locations favorable for the geese?
The open grassy area provides food and allows them to see approaching predators.