The scientific name of this bird is Eudyptula minor.

Find out physical description of these cute, little, adorable birds below.

Size: These Penguins grow up to 30-33 cm in height.

Weight: Little penguins weigh about 1.5 kilograms on an average.

Color: The head and upperparts are generally blue in color. However, an immature penguin will have lighter colored upper parts. The ears have a slate-grey shade, fading to white from chin towards the belly. The beak is dark grey to black. The irises are pale silvery or bluish grey or hazel in color. The feet are pink with black soles underneath the webbing.

Beak: The beak size ranges from 3-4 cm in length.

Picture 1 – Little Penguin

They are found in New Zealand and also along the southern coasts of Australia. Their range spreads from near Perth in Western Australia to around Coffs Harbor in New South Wales.

They often set up their colonies in sand-dune vegetation, sea caves and on headlands. The ocean is the Little penguin’s natural environment. However, they also live in man-made structures such as cavities beneath houses that are built a little raised from the ground level.

The behavioral traits of these angelic, little birds are very interesting to observe.

• The little penguins spend their entire day swimming.
• They wake up at sunrise and continue hunting into the evening.
• These birds preen their feathers to keep themselves waterproof.
• Little Penguins are known to communicate at sea-shore with a variety of calls for declaring territory or calling for mates.
• When at the shore, they tend to remain within 25 km of the coast but they have an ability to travel as long as 75 km.
• On land, they stand upright and walk or waddle awkwardly on their hind legs.
• They are social birds and are often seen flocking together in groups.
• Most of the little penguins have the same mate for life-time but some of them change mate from year to year.
• They tend to nest in burrows.

These birds feed themselves by hunting fishes such as anchovies, squids, small octopuses, planktons, pilchards and other small sea animals. They may also eat crab larvae, crustaceans and sea horses.

Little Penguins are often attacked by predators such as sharks, New Zealand fur seals, and also foxes.

The adaptive features of this species help them to survive in their natural habitat.

• The wings of the little penguins have evolved into flippers that help them to swim faster underwater.
• The little penguins keep themselves waterproof by preening their feathers with a drop of oil from a gland above their tail.
• They are excellent swimmers, being able to swim at a speed of 6 km/hr.

Picture 2 – Little Penguin Image

The breeding season of Little penguins vary from year to year and from colony to colony based on the availability of food. Usually the mating season is between June and August.

Female Little penguins tend to mature when they are 2 years old and males mature when they are 3 years old. Male penguins return to their colonies and reconstruct old burrows, dig new nests to attract females. Females arrive in June to meet aggressive males who perform complicated courting displays. They lay two eggs at a time. For the 35 day incubation period both males and females take turns in incubating the eggs.

Little Penguin eggs take almost five weeks to hatch depending on the food supply. Both males and females take care of the young in the first three weeks. In the next five weeks, the young penguins are fed regurgitated food by the adults. After this period ends they are forced out of the nest.

Little Penguins live for seven years on an average.

Little Penguins are listed in the Least Concern Category according to the IUCN. In Sydney, snipers have been deployed to protect the colony of Little Penguins.

There are few interesting facts about this cute species of bird.

• Little Penguins are the smallest species of penguins.
• The word Eudyptula in its scientific name means ‘good little diver’.
• Little Penguins have better vision under water than on land.
• These penguins are the only penguin species that breeds on Australian mainland.

Here are some Images of these incredible birds known as little penguin.

Picture 3 - Little Penguin Picture

Picture 4 - Little Penguin Photo

References:

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/animals/TheLittlePenguin.htm

http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/marine/penguins/penguin_littlefairy.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Penguin

http://www.marineparks.wa.gov.au/fun-facts/36-little-penguin.html

They are also known as Zebra Nerite snails and Tiger Nerite Snails.

This freshwater nerite snail belongs to the family of Neritidae, having a striking colorful operculum.

Color: The operculum of this invertebrate has black patterns running in a zig-zag fashion on a yellowish base. Shells may also be yellow-lime in color.

Length: They have a bodily length of 2.5 cm.

Shell shape: It is shaped like liquid-drops.

Picture 1 – Neritina natalensis

This particular species of snail is a native of Africa encompassing eastern, northwestern and southern Africa including Mozambique’s coastal lowlands, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania.

Neritina natalensis Habitat

These snails live in mountain and forest streams as they are freshwater habitats. These are its ideal habitats as they can feed on algae spread over rocks and crevices. In East Africa, they are found in the lagoons and mangrove swamps. They are able to tolerate both warm and cold water.

Read about the behavioral characteristics of this snail.

• The snails can also live outside water.
• They are peaceful creatures without any violent streaks.
• They tend to be active during the night.

These snails largely survive on algae but may also eat vegetable matter. Algae laden rocks and leaves are ideal for these snails as they get enough food from them. They refrain from eating plants and meaty food.

They have a complex breeding procedure. They do not breed in freshwater instead breed in slightly brackish water.

Eggs : White colored eggs are laid on rocky areas. They are 3mm in size, resembling sesame seeds.

Initially young larvae do not crawl like the adults but they swim.

It may live for 2 to 3 years.

Picture 2 – Neritina natalensis Photo

They have slow growth rate.

Freshwater fishes like Cichlids and Loaches are the regular predators of this species.

Housing: Right water temperature and conditions are required for keeping them in the aquariums. Large tanks are best for their survival and if at all it is kept in a small tank, make sure it has a good filtration system.Calcium supplement can be added into the tank for making the water worth living. Feeding: Though they generally feed on algae, you can also give them food supplements rich in calcium.

Care: They should be kept in well filtered water, for more queries you may consult a professional. As they have a tendency to crawl out of the tanks, care should be taken to keep them back into the water or keep the tanks covered.

IUCN has insufficient data regarding this species of snail.

These snails are peaceful and harmless to its surroundings, which is why they are preferred by hobbyists. You can often see them escaping from tanks if measures not taken to check this tendency.

Some images of Neritina natalensis have been listed here.

Picture 3 – Neritina natalensis Image

Picture 4 - Neritina natalensis Picture

Reference:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fwsubwebindex/fwbrnerites.htm

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/snails-in-your-fish-tank-can-be-awesome-or-terrible-1674636.html

http://www.planetinverts.com/zebra_nerite_snail.html

http://hoopmanscience.pbworks.com/w/page/47904607/Neritina%20natalensis

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/14628/0

http://www.petfish.net/articles/Invertebrates/Zebra_Nerite.php

The scientific name for this species of snake is “Regina septemvittata”.

Here is a brief description of these snakes.

Length: These are mid-sized snakes measuring between 34 and 92 cm in length.

Body Type: Queen Snakes have a somewhat slender body.

Color: Both the adults as well as the young ones have a grayish body. However, their color may also range from olive green to light brown. Three faint dark stripes run down the length of the body. Two yellowish or whitish stripes run along the sides of the snakes. The snake’s belly is yellowish in color and has four brown stripes. Two faint, light stripes run down the back.

Scales: The scales on a Queen Snake’s body are keeled.

Pupils: The pupils of a Queen Snake are rounded.

Anal Plate: A Queen Snake has a divided anal plate.

Tail: The males have longer tails than the females.

Sexual Dimorphism: The females are larger in size than the males.

Picture 1 – Queen Snake

These snakes are found along the temperate regions of North America in the eastern parts of Mississippi River from the western parts of the state of New York to Wisconsin, northern Florida, southern parts of Alabama as well as southwestern Ontario.

Queen snakes are very particular about their habitat requirements which depend heavily on their choice of diet. They are most commonly found in clean running streams and watery areas having rocks and stony bottoms. The temperature of the water should be minimum 50°F during the active months of these snakes.

Here are some common behavioral patterns of Queen Snakes.

• Queen Snakes are diurnal by nature. Sometimes, they are also move about and hunt at night.
• They frequently rest under rocks on the streams and brooks they inhabit.
• Queen snakes love to bask in the sun and will do so by perching themselves on tree branches.
• They are very quick to spot any potential threat and will quickly return to their watery habitat at the slightest hint of any disturbances.
• Unlike many aggressive snakes, the Queen Snake is very docile and not prone to biting.
• Apart from the mating season, queen snakes lead a very solitary life.

Fresh water crayfishes form the mainstay of these snakes’ diet. They also like to prey exclusively on newly molted crayfish, as they cannot defend themselves against Queen Snakes’ attack with their pincers. Other food sources include tadpoles, frogs, newts, snails, minnows and fairy shrimp.

The main predators of these snakes include raccoons, minks, otters, herons and hawks. Large fishes and frogs also prey on the young ones.

Picture 2 - Queen Snake Photo

Here are the main adaptive features of these snakes.

• The narrow head of the Queen Snake is covered with 9 plate-like scales and the chin has numerous rows of thick scales. These scales protect the snake from being crushed under rocks when it is searching for food.
• These snakes have small and agile bodies which they can move very quickly once they become aware of any danger or potential threats.
• Instead of sight or heat sensitivity, queen snakes use their sense of smell to catch their prey since their olfactory senses are very strong.
• If grabbed, a queen snake will smear the individual with foul smelling secretions as a defense mechanism.

These snakes hibernate during the winter months. Several snakes can be found together in hibernacula close to their watery habitat. Hibernation dens are generally built inside some old bridge abutments, dams, and niches of bedrock as well as cracked concrete walls. The snakes are very lethargic during hibernation. Crayfishes, the main choice of food for these snakes may become their predator and start consuming young snakes during this time.

Like all snakes, the Queen Snake also sheds its skin from time to time. A newborn snake will grow rapidly and so have to shed its skin twice during the first week. Adults shed their skin three to four times per year.

Queen Snakes mostly mate in spring as well as during the autumn months. Springtime mating mostly starts in the month of May.

The male queen snakes reach sexual maturity at the age of two and the females at the age of three. Even when both the male and female snakes become sexually mature at 2 years of age, the female snakes will probably wait for another year before they decide to mate. If a female has mated during autumn, she can postpone giving birth till next spring while choosing to store the energy that she would need during the hibernating months. Queen snakes breed once per year.

Picture 3 - Baby Queen Snake

A courting male is going to approach a female by flicking its tongue in order to seek for chemical cues that reveal her identity and eagerness to mate. The male will then crawl over to the female to align its own body as well as its vent with that of the female.

Queen snakes are ovoviviparous, which means that the females give birth to the young ones after a period of carrying the eggs along with her in her body. A litter size can vary greatly, and can consist of anywhere between 5 and 20 newborn snakes. It takes between 1.5 and 2.5 minutes for an individual snake to be born. The time interval between two individual births is anywhere around four minutes to one hour, with an average of 11 minutes.

The newborn snakes are approximately 6 inches in length and weigh around 3 grams. Their bodies are covered with even more marks than that of the adults. They grow very rapidly during this early period and can even shed skin twice during the first week after birth. During these early stages, they mostly live on yolk stores which are rich in nutrients. The baby queen snakes are very independent from the beginning. They can swim and fend for themselves directly after birth. Within the first year, the length of their bodies increases by 50% to 80%. After the second year, the rate of growth drops considerably.

The longevity of queen snakes in the wild is not exactly known. However, an individual queen snake has been known to live up to 19 years in captivity.

Queen snakes have a considerable appeal as pets. Many people feeling eager to pet reptiles often choose queen snakes as their preferred creature. Caring for them is easy and with little effort, one can provide a nice home for them.

Housing: Get a tank or an aquarium to house your pet snake. It should be at least a medium-sized tank or aquarium and have enough space for the snake to move about. The tank should be provided with rocks which will function as a basking ground for the snakes. Prepare to house young snakes if you keep a male snake together with a female one.

Water requirements: A source of clean water should be provided in the tank’s enclosure, as queen snakes living in the wild prefer to hang around aquatic environments having fast-running clean water.

Temperature: A heater should be fitted to the tank or aquarium which will help to keep the temperature above 50° Fahrenheit. Like any other snake, queen snakes are cold blooded and they require a specific temperature to be active and healthy.

Feeding: Provide your pet queen snake with a healthy diet of soft-shelled crayfishes, minnows, newts, shrimps, snails, tadpoles and frogs.

Hibernation: Provide a space for your pet snake to hibernate during the colder months.

Queen snakes have been classified under the category of “Least concern” by the IUCN.

Here are some interesting facts about these snakes.

• A queen snake is often mistakenly believed to be a garter snake as they are quite similar in their appearance.
• Their peaceful nature sets them apart from most of the other snake species. When threatened, they prefer not to attack their enemies.
• Although a diurnal species, queen snakes are often found to roam and hunt during nighttime.
• The females do not lay eggs; instead they carry the eggs inside their bodies and give birth to live young ones.

Here are some images of the Queen Snakes.

Picture 4 – Queen Snake Picture

Picture 5 - Queen Snake Image

References

http://www.herpsofnc.org/herps_of_nc/snakes/Regsep/Reg_sep.html

http://www.creaturecontrol.net/Snakes

http://www.ehow.com/how_8706169_care-queen-snakes.html

http://www.michherp.org/queen.html

http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&id=150

The scientific name is Ictalurus furcatus.

There are some other names of this Blue Catfish.

• Channel Cat
• Hump-back Blue
• High fin blue
• Hi-fin blue
• Mississippi white catfish
• Blues
• Forked-tailed cat
• Chucklehead
• Silver cat,
• Great Blue Cat,
• Blue fulton
• Arkansas cat
• Madtom
• Fulton cat
• Cold boarder

Let us read how these fork tailed fishes look like.

Body­: The number of rays in the anal fin is usually around thirty to thirty five. They have “barbels” or whiskers in the region around the mouth. Blue Catfish is round with a flat belly. As they grow larger they build up a separate hump on the back near the front of the dorsal fin. They have long anal fin with a straight margin. Their body is heavy with a broad head. The upper jaw comes out much at much a distance from the lower jaw. The internal air bladder has a constriction in the center, which gives it a 2 chambered look.

Picture 1 - Blue Catfish

Skin: Their skin is smooth with no scales.

Color: The color is usually slate blue on the back, with white shading on the belly. Blue Catfish is mostly bluish grey, though they sometimes take on a silvery look.

Size: The size of the Blue Catfish is around 5.5 ft.

Weight: Blue Catfish usually attains the weight of twenty to forty pounds. Sometimes, this species of fish may reach weights of even hundred pounds.

Blue catfishes are inhabitant to major rivers of the Missouri, Ohio and Mississippi river basins. Their range extends in south through Texas, Mexico and towards northern Guatemala.

Blue catfishes are usually large-river fish, living in tributaries, lakes, main channels, reservoirs and banks of major river systems. They are inclined to move upstream during the summers to look for cooler temperatures and move downstream during the winters to find warmer water. They prefer to live in clear and swift waters.

They are found in gravel, over sand or rocky bottoms.

Let us check out the behavioral traits of this huge fish.

• They are known for putting up a good fight and makes things difficult for fishermen.
• Blue cat fish are opportunistic feeders. They are often known to be found eating under schools of striped bass or white bass picking up bait fish.
• They are known to feed heavily in tailraces of dams, picking up wounded, killed or shocked bait fish as it flows through the tailraces of the dams.
• Blue catfish usually seek out deep holes with plentiful cover which provides relief from strong currents. These fishes move up to swift water to feed, mostly at nights.
• They prefer the atmosphere of large rivers and in the deeper areas which have moderate to strong current.
• Blue catfishes are chiefly nocturnal eaters.
• These fishes are easily lured with a wide variety of bait irrespective of the fact whether they are dead or alive.

The diet of the fish mainly consists of live or freshly dead fishes. They are fond of small fish, clams, crayfish, frogs, mussels and insects. Large blue catfish often feeds exclusively on other fishes.

These fishes are one of the apex predators of the marine world.

The most useful baits are shad, Chicken livers, crawfish, shrimp, cut fish, earth worms, small eels, live fish, cheese baits, blood baits, night crawlers. They also take prepared and rotting baits.

Picture 2 - Blue Catfish Image

Blue Catfish have certain adaptive features.

• Blue Catfishes are fast growers.
• They look for most of their food near the bottom, because they are nocturnal beings.
• Their barbels or whiskers give these fish a strong sense of odour, which plays a key role in looking for food.
• Blue Catfishes are hardy fish which will survive even if they are kept in less favorable environment.

Most blue catfish do not mature sexually till they reach 24 inches in length. The spawning season for Blue catfish runs from June to early July when water temperatures first reach 70 to 75 F. They prefer to spawn in dark, isolated locations alike to those they live in. They mate in the months of April, May and June.

Males and females put in effort together to build a nest before depositing and fertilizing the eggs. These fishes build nest where the eggs are laid. They protect them from predators till the young catfish hatches. Blue Catfish are very productive. A large female can lay up to 20,00,00 eggs and possibly even more than that. They usually roam into more calm waters before building their nest and spawning.

The young are hatched in about a week while the male will guard the young for a week. The fry then swims away and remains on their own.

The young ones feed on aquatic insects and small fish. As they grow up, they develop fancy for crayfish, mussels and other fish.

Till the young ones attain one year, the size of the fishes reach something around 2.25 to 4 inches. Young ones school up after hatching.

Blue Catfish have a lifespan of something between 20 to 30 years.

Blue Catfishes need to be kept in very large aquariums or pond due to their huge size. In an aquarium or pond the water temperature should be between 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. The aquarium or pond should be ornamented with large rocks and the bottom should be covered with sand along with gravel.

Blue Catfish will prefer if the aquarium or pond is decked in such a way where there are hiding places in abundance. Keeping plants are not obligatory. A large filter should be provided to the catfish with adequate water movement.

Blue Catfishes are very easy to feed in aquariums as they will accept crab meat, fish meat, shrimp and mollusks.

Blue Catfish should not be kept with so small fish that they will be devoured. This is because of their predatory nature.

IUCN has not yet evaluated its Conservation Status.

Some very interesting facts are associated with this fish species.

• Blue catfish have a forked tail which looks very similar to Channel catfish.
• Blue Catfish is the largest freshwater sport fish in Texas.
• Blue Catfish are at times fished by hand. This process is called ‘grabbing or noodling.

Take a close look at the pictures of this huge catfish.

Picture 3 - Blue Catfish Picture

Picture 4 - Blue Catfish Photo

References:

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/catfish/blue.php

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/blc/

http://grandfishingreport.com/pgs/lakeinfo/species/bluecat/bluecatfish.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_catfish

http://www.catfishangling.com/blue-catfish-facts/

http://www.learntocatchcatfish.com/blue-catfish-ictalurus-furcat

Grey partridge is scientifically known as Perdix perdix.

This bird looks like a stray pigeon from a distance.

Size : Grey partridge grows to 28-32 cm in length.

Shape : This bird is roundish in shape.

Weight : Both the sexes weigh 390gm-400gm.

Color : The belly is white in color and is marked with horse shoe marks in both the sexes.

Wingspan : Their wingspan stretches up to 46 cm. The wings are round shaped.

Bill : The bird possesses a thick but short bill.

Eyes : Their eyes are brown and are surrounded by faint, red eye ring.

Tail : partridge has short neck and tail.

Picture 1 - Grey Partridge

They have eight sub-species:

• P. p. amoricana (Hartert, 1917)
• P. p. canescens (Burturlin, 1906)
• P. p. hispaniensis (Reichenow, 1892)
• P. p. italica (Hartert, 1917)
• P. p. lucida (Altum, 1894)
• P. p. perdix (Linnaeus, 1758)
• P. p. Robusta (Homeyer and Tancré, 1883)
• P. p. sphagnetorum (Altum, 1894) – moors

This particular species of bird breeds on farmland across Europe, Asia, North America, Canada and United States. They are actually non-native species and were introduced to North America. Now they are seen in almost all parts of the world.

Grey partridge are mainly sedentary. Some of them migrate and that also because of unsuitable weather conditions.

They prefer residing in cultivated areas, steppes as well as grasslands in temperate zones. They actually need ground cover such as shrubby areas and hedgerows from where they flush when being disturbed. They love wandering in open areas and has also adapted to the changes for agricultural expansion.

Picture 2 - Grey Partridge Image

Grey partridge possesses unique behavioral characteristics.

• They are non-territorial in nature.
• They live in large groups.
• Males become aggressive towards each other during the mating season.
• In the month of summer, partridges consume insects and green leaves.
• In winter, they consume variety of waste grain, sunflower and wheat.
• During their courtship days, the male spread wings and tail to display their rich plumage pattern.

Grey partridge feeds on seeds of weeds and cereals as well as grass leaves. They also catch insects like bugs, aphids, Hemiptera, and some larger bugs, beetles and so on. Most of their diet chart comprises of grains.

Partridge sport strong and fast flight on short distances. Their flight is buzzing with frequent glides.

They call on takeoff. Sometimes at night they sing but that is also short and clipped.

They do have many predators that include foxes, rats, magpies, stoats, as well as crows.

Picture 3 - Grey Partridge Eggs

Grey partridge is a bird having some of the best adaptive features.

• They prefer open grasslands and so have adapted to live on farmland.
• They live in groups so that can defend the predators.
• They prefer seed eating and so grassland serves as the ideal spot for them.
• If are threatened, they flies often calling rick rick rick as it rises.

The mating season varies according to their range. But mostly the mating starts from the month of April and continues till June, with a second clutch in late summer.

Grey partridge are monogamous. They start forming pair four months before breeding. Both mates join in the breeding season. Their nest is placed in the dense vegetation and is sometime placed at the base of hedgerow or bush. The female birds lay between 15-17 olive eggs. Females incubate the eggs for last 20-25 days. Male ones protect the nests. They are precocial and leave the nest within 1 year after hatching.

Juveniles are cared by both the adults. They are capable to make short flights after 10-12 days. After 20 days, they fly very well. Still they remain with their friends for some more days until they reach the maturity stage. They reach their sexual maturity stage after 1 year. The parents lead their chicks to the edges of cereal field

They used to have a life span of 3 years and some stays for 5 years and not more than that.

IUCN has enlisted these birds in the least concerned category. They are not threatened but still their population is declining. Efforts are being made by some organizations to halt this decline rate. In Ireland, this bird is virtually confined to the Lough Boora reserve in County Offaly.

Grey partridge are interesting species to know about

• They are most active in dawn and dusk.
• A partridge’s eggs take less than 3 weeks to hatch.
• These birds prefer walking rather than flying.
• They are gregarious in nature.
• Grey partridge chicks require a diet of over 90%insects.

Here are a few grey partridge images

Picture 4 - Grey Partridge Chik

Picture 5 - Grey Partridge Picture

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Partridge

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-grey-partridge.htm

http://www.photographers-resource.co.uk/Wildlife/species/birds/Pheasants_partridge/partridge_grey.htm

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=188

The scientific name of Atlantic Herring is Clupea harengus.

Atlantis Herring has a few of other names as well.

• Herring
• Sperling
• Sardine
• Common Herring
• Labrador Herring
• Sild
• Sea Herring

Atlantic Herring is small in size.

Size: These fishes reach a size of 45 cm.

Weight: These fishes weigh a little more than 500 gm.

Scales: Few of them are said to have pointed scales.

Color: These beautiful fishes are silver colored. Atlantic herring have dark bluish or at times greenish backs.

Appearance: These fishes have small head which is flattened. The shape of the body is slim and smooth. They have a lower jaw which projects out and resembles the jaw of a bull dog. The posterior edge of the gill opening is uniformly rounded.

Picture 1 - Atlantic Herring

Fins: They have a single dorsal fin with no side lines. The dorsal fins do not have backbones contrasting to other fishes. The tail like fin is deeply divided. The single dorsal fin is situated at mid-body and there is no fat fin.

Eyes: The eyes are somewhat covered by a fatty eyelid.

The Atlantic Herrings are abundantly found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, where it is commonly called Pacific Herring. Atlantic herring dwells in the north eastern Atlantic area. They are not found in the Mediterranean region.

Atlantic Herring are aquatic and travel to inshore and offshore spawning grounds. Adult Herring fishes spawn on Georges Bank and travel south western to the mid Atlantic area in search of warmer waters during the winters. They usually return to the Gulf of Maine during the springs.

Herrings stay in coastal waters over the continental area. They live in bays, lagoons and water bodies at depth of 1 to 200m.

Atlantic Herring has some unique behavioral patterns.

• Herring fish swims in groups, which is known as schooling.
• Herring fish are also called forage fish, as they are near the bottom of the eco system’s food chain, therefore serving as food for their predators.
• They spend their daytime in deep water, but rise up to the surface at night.
• They are migratory in nature.

Herring fishes feed on minute organisms like planktons, small fish, crustaceans, fish larvae, zooplanktons, striped bass, copepods, small cruataceans, pteropods and other small marine animals. Phytoplanktons are eaten mainly by the young ones.

The Atlantic Herring has predators like whales, cod, salmon, and halibut. Sea mammals like whales, as well as sea birds, seals, sharks, tuna, dog fish and dolphins attack these attractive fishes.

Here are some of the adaptive features of this species of fish.

• The glowing silver color of their body helps them to hide in the surrounding water.
• Some of them have pointed and sharp scales which helps them to defend themselves against their predators, during their fight for survival.
• As they flock in schools, others help to distract the predator while one of them is attacked.

Picture 2 – Atlantic Herring Photo

Let us take a look at the nutritional value of these beautiful and delicious fishes.

• Sodium
• Fat
• Saturated Fat
• Trans Fat
• Cholesterol
• Protein
• Vitamin A
• Iron
• Vitamin C
• Calcium

They mate sometime between midsummer and the month of December. This is the best time for the herrings to spawn. Herring fish become sexually mature when they are around four to nine years old.

The eggs are deposited on rocks or seaweed. It generally takes about fourteen days to hatch. The young ones normally reach adulthood in about four years. Herrings travel towards the shore to spawn between the months of December and July. The female deposits as many as forty thousand eggs on seaweed and rocks.

Fertilization is external. Female Herrings releases eggs and male herrings release lots of milt at the same time. The Herrings become fat prior to spawning, because they feed on the spring blooms of plankton offered up by temperate waters of the Gulf. Mature eggs make up most of the portion of the female’s body mass. The fertilized eggs hatch into larvae in seven to ten days depending on the temperature of the water.

The larva swims towards the surface. Herrings become sexually mature when they reach the age of two to three years. Baby Herrings gain diet from autumn coastal blooms. They are often hastily snatched away from the sea by diving birds like guillemots.

The larvae are about 5 to 6 millimeters long at hatching, with a small yolk sac which gets absorbed by the time the larva reaches 10 millimeters. The eyes are well pigmented. The rest of the body is almost see-through, close to invisible under water and natural luminance conditions.

They have a life expectancy of 12 to 16 years.

Atlantic Herring is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. They are one of the fishes which are abundantly found.

Here are some of the interesting facts about this beautiful silver colored fish.

• One of the most interesting facts is that these fishes keep their mouths open while swimming and by this way they filter the planktons, which goes through their gills.
• Southern Herrings can live up to twenty five years.
• Another interesting trait about Herring fishes is that they have been a major source of staple food for human beings all over the world. Commercially, it is often sold salted, pickled. They are found as smoked or canned as Sardines.
• This is an important source of food in many countries that lie in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They are smoked, fermented, pickled and at times eaten raw.
• Herrings are used for making fish oil. They serve as good sources of vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids.

Here are some of the amazing pictures of this fish species.

Picture 3 - Atlantic Herring Picture

Picture 4 – Atlantic Herring Image

References:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/factfiles/fish/herring_bg.shtml

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/herring-fish-facts.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_herring

http://www.arkive.org/atlantic-herring/clupea-harengus/#text=All

The scientific name of Harlequin Duck is Histrionicus histrionicus.

There are some alternative names of these elegant ducks.

• Blue streak
• Painted Duck
• Squeaker
• Totem Pole Duck
• White Eyed Diver
• Mountain Duck
• Rock Duck
• Glacier Duck

Find out how these beautiful duck looks like.

Body : They are plump bodied.

Color : The color of the male’s wings, head, neck and back are bluish grey. The flanks are chestnut-red colored. A black strip runs along the top of its head which is bordered by a chestnut line. It ultimately fades to a white crescent around the front of its face. There are white markings, all edged with black on the wings, below the tail, behind the eye, side of the neck and around the base of the neck which forms a collar. The female has a dark grey brownish body and head with about 3 vague white facial markings similar to the males.

Size : The Males are usually 17.3 inches long. While the females are 15.8 inches long.

Weight : Males weigh around 1.44 pounds. The females weigh slightly lesser than the males. Their weight varies around 1.22 pounds.

Wingspan : Their wing span stretches up to 2 to 2.3 feet in breadth.

Picture 1 – Harlequin Duck

Harlequin ducks breed in Siberian region and in Mountain Rivers through Alaska and in the western provinces and states. They are also known to breed in Greenland, the eastern Arctic on Baffin Island, the Ungava peninsula. Globally, Harlequin Ducks are categorized into two distinct populations, a larger Pacific population and a comparatively smaller Atlantic population.

They are short distance migrants and mostly migrate during the winters near rocky shorelines on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They rarely migrate to Western Europe.

Harlequin Ducks are a bird of fast-moving water. They breed on fast-flowing watercourses and spend the winters along rocky coastlines in the crashing surf. It generally nests close to water bodies and builds its nest on the ground in a bundle of bushes. Occasionally they build nests in a rock crevice, tree hollow or old sea bird burrow.

Harlequin Diet feeds on crustaceans, insects, chitons, fish, mussels, shellfish, fish eggs, molluscs and marine invertebrates. Harlequin ducks feed in small groups near the shore, with the help of their bills around and under stones.

These medium sized birds have some exclusive behavioral forms.

• They dive for prey on or near the bottom of water bodies.
• It specializes in feeding in fast water, mainly in turbulent, rock studded rivers which are rich in invertebrate life.
• While searching for food, it walks along the floor of fast flowing streams, by using its bill to look for insect larvae in the rocks.
• It builds its nests close to water borne areas.
• They are known to walk near the bottom and crawl over slippery, algae covered rocks.
• At the end of the breeding season, the flocks often include pairs which reunite when females join their mates that left them months earlier.
• They live in flocks of up to fifty ducks, except breeding season.
• They are sociable birds though they do not frequently mix with ducks of other species.
• They feed in small groups.
• These ducks play in the waves, using both their wings and their feet. They dive through the surf, and shows great skill to steer through the roughest seas.
• These birds have high metabolism rates. So they must eat continuously.
• Ducks molt around thrice in a year. The process of molting can take up to 2 months.
• They return to the same location every winter.
• During flight they travel in tightly packed groups.

When Harlequin Ducks are in the air, their flight is normally speedy and erratic. When they fly, their wings beat swiftly. They travel in packs.

Picture 2 - Flying Harlequin Duck

The Harlequin Duck is preyed upon by the arctic fox and gray wolf.

Harlequin Ducks have certain adaptive features which helps them survive in extreme temperatures.

• Harlequin ducks are excellent seafarers.
• They are expert divers, which is useful for spending the winters in stormy waters.
• This duck species burn up large amounts of energy while swimming in rough water, so they often rest on exposed rocks. This is in sharp contrast to other sea ducks which normally rests on the water.
• They are the only ducks capable of pulling limpets and chitons off rocks, which they do by meddling with the hard “nail” on the tip of their bill.
• They use their wings to warn and escape from predators.
• They use their feathers to keep themselves insulated. Harlequin Ducks have smooth, densely packed feathers which trap a lot of air within them. This is essential for insulating their bodies against the chilly waters they play in.
• Their feather makes them remarkably buoyant, which makes them spring up like corks after dives.

The voice of Harlequin Duck is that of a shrill whistle. It bears a resemblance to the squeak of a mouse. They remain silent most of the times, occasionally squeaking.

Harlequin ducks begin to mate when they reach the age of two years. Very little is known about their courtship behavior, even though breeding usually begins in late May or early June.

Harlequin Ducks usually lay around three to nine eggs. The egg is pale creamy to pale buff in color. The eggs are incubated by the female, which hardly ever leaves the nest only to feed, wash or rest for twenty eight to thirty two days until they hatch.

Picture 3 - Harlequin Duck Image

The nest is made up of dry plants that are set in a circular pattern to a height of 5 to 8 cm, and is decorated with fine grass. The male lives with the female during the incubation period and leaves to moult as well as feed in other areas. It reduces the number of ducks feeding in one particular area and it probably escalates survival rates.

The female Harlequin Duck raises the young one. The chicks hatch within a few hours of one another. The young ones are able to swim and feed on their own soon after they are hatched.

Nothing is known about their lifespan.

Harlequin Ducks are categorized as “Least Concern” by the IUCN.

• The Harlequin Duck is the only duck in North America that specializes in feeding in fast moving streams. They are one of the only four birds in the world to do so.
• These ducks are listed as endangered in Canada.
• In North America these ducks are termed as Lords and Ladies because of its elegant feature.

Here are some amazing pictures of this glorious, graceful and gorgeous Duck species.

Picture 4 – Harlequin Duck Photo

Picture 5 - Harlequin Duck Picture

References:

http://www.arctic.uoguelph.ca/cpl/organisms/birds/marine/ducks/harlequin.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequin_Duck

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/harlequin-duck

http://www.naturecanada.ca/bird_cons_harlequin.asp

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/harlequin_duck.htm

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has several species alike in characteristics. They are Black Swallowtail (female), Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail and Spicebush Swallowtail. It has derived its name “Eastern,” because it is abundantly found in the eastern United States. The term “Tiger,” is used due to its distinctive tiger like markings, particularly found on the males. Finally “Swallowtail,” is because of their long “tail” on their hind wings which is similar to the swallows.

The scientific name of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is Papilio glaucus.

This species of butterflies are very colorful and bright.

Color: The color of the eastern tiger swallowtail is unique. Males are yellowish or yellow-orange in color with black tiger stripes. Their wings are bounded in black with yellowish spots and there are black tiger stripes running around the top of their wings. The long black tails have blue patches on them. The color of the female varies from yellow to bluish-black.

Picture 1 - Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The hind wing of females has a row of prominent blue stripes and a sparkling blue wash over parts of the inner hind wing. The upper side hind wing has a distinct orange minor spot that is normally better than the row of pale minor spots. On the underside of the forewing of spring individuals the row of minor spots may be fused into a constant band which appears like the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.

Size: The size of the butterfly extends from three and a half to four and a half inches.

Wingspan: The wingspan is around two and a half to four and a half inches, which is 6.2 to 11.4 cm. The females are slightly larger than males.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is abundantly found in North America in the east of the Rocky Mountains starting from Ontario south to the Gulf coast and northern part of Mexico.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail lives in deciduous woods all along the streams, rivers, swamps, edges of forest, river valleys, parks and suburbs.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has certain behavioral traits.

• Eastern tiger swallowtails usually avoid company of others.
• Male Butterflies will fly from place to place expecting for a mate.
• They are a timber species, but it can frequently be found in fields and all along roadsides.
• Like the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail it is a mud puddler.
• The caterpillars of this butterfly normally place themselves in the heart of the leaves and face upwards.
• This butterfly species dotes of aromatic lilies.
• These butterflies are powerful, swift and strong fliers.
• The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is active only during the day.

Picture 2 – Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Image

This butterfly has several bird predators. The predators are Sharp skinned hawk, Great crested flycatcher, Bald faced hornet, Red winged blackbird, Downy woodpecker, White breasted nuthatch, Fiery searcher, Eastern gray squirrel, Chinese mantid, Virginia opossum, Barred owl, Raccoon, Green darner, Common crow and Belted kingfisher.

There are certain adaptive features of this yellow and blackish butterfly.

• The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly is not a toxic butterfly, but several females are quite dark in color, miming the venomous Pipevine butterfly, to escape from its predators.
• The caterpillar is disguised to look like bird droppings when it is very young, to prevent any attack from the predators.
• Later on the caterpillar develops typical eyespots, which resembles a snake and shoo off its predators.
• Butterflies can sip liquid food using a tube-like nose, which is quite long and kind of a flexible “tongue.” This proboscis disentangles to sip food and curls up again into a curve when not in use.
• Different from most butterflies, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail spreads its wings while resting or enjoying. They continue to flap their wings while feeding on nectar which is quite unusual.
• Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies huddle near each other around puddles and muddy rocks. These activities are done because it is believed that this helps them take out necessary amino acids as well as sodium ions favorable for reproduction.
• Caterpillars consume oils from the host plants of the carrot family. The stinking taste of the chemical in their bodies repulses birds and other predators.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail larvae eats the leaves of a variety of wooded plants which includes ash, wild cherry, birch, tulip, cottonwood and willow. The Adults eat the nectar of flowers from a variety of plants.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has three flights from the months of February to November in deep South and two flights from the months of May to September in north.

Butterflies and moths go through complete transformation in which they undergo 4 diverse life stages. It takes around a month for the egg to grow up into an adult.

Picture 3 – Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar

They brood twice, especially those from the northern part while butterflies from the southern area brood thrice. Males watch out for females who are receptive. They patrol at tree top points and swoop at lower levels to stop in front of females and offer to mate. During courtship the male and female flap around each other before landing and mating. If they feel they are under danger during mating then the female carries the male away. Male swallowtails have a scent like pheromone which is used in courtship.

After mating, female tiger swallowtails lay eggs on leaves of the host plants. Host plants are those plants which the caterpillars will eat.

When caterpillars first hatch, their color is like a bird excreta. This helps disguise themselves. As they grow up, they turn green with a large head and bright eyespots. The eyespots are not eyes. They are just there to drive away predators, or to draw them to attack the mistaken part of the butterfly. A butterfly can lose parts of its wing but still survive.

When caterpillars grow up fully, they then turn into pupae. The name for a pupa butterfly is chrysalis. The chrysalis of this butterfly is greenish-brown in color. The chrysalis is little over an inch long. Hibernation occurs in this stage in those places with cold winter months.

In around a month from the time the egg was laid, a beautiful butterfly will come out from the cocoon. Butterflies stop growing once they emerge. An adult Eastern Tiger Swallowtail will pop out of the chrysalis in a couple of weeks. If the weather is too cold, the butterfly may wait till the spring season arrives.

Picture 4 – Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Egg

The leaves of various plants serve as host plants. These plants are wild cherry, birch sweetbay, mountain ash, basswood, tulip tree, ash, cottonwood and willow. Other plants include Yellow poplar, American hornbeam, Black willow, American elm, Spicebrush, Red maple and Sassafras.

The lifespan of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly stretches from spring through fall, all through which they produce two or three broods. These butterflies live for about a month.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is not protected as it is declared “secure”.

Let us check out some of the interesting facts associated with this North American Butterfly.

• Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is admired in the four states of United States-South Carolina, George, Delaware, Virginia and Alabama. They have listed this butterfly as their official state butterfly.
• Virginia has labeled it as their official state insect.
• The caterpillars look like bird droppings and this is done to escape from birds which prey upon them.
• They have spots like eyes, but they are not actually eyes.

Here are some of the incredible pictures of this colorful butterfly.

Picture 5 - Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Picture

Picture 6 – Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Photo

References:

http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/81124.aspx

http://www.radfordpl.org/wildwood/today/Animal_articles/E_Tiger_Swallowtail.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/species/Tigersw.shtml

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-glaucus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio_glaucus

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/eastern_tiger_swallowtail.htm

The Scientific name of Spotted Bat is Euderma maculatum.

The Spotted Bat is the largest bat of North America.

Size: The size of the bat can reach up to the length of 124 mm.

Color: Spotted Bat has black fur on back. Two white spots are there on the shoulders. It has a white spot on the rump and the portion below is covered with white fur. There are small white patches under each ear. The bat is pale colored. It usually has a combination of grey and pink. Ears and membrane are pinkish in color. The face is black colored.

Wingspan: The wingspan stretches up to 14 inches.

Weight: The weight of this bat varies around 16 to 20g.

Tail: The tail is 51 mm in size.

Ears: Size of their ears is 42mm.

Picture 1 - Spotted Bat

Forearm: The size of forearms extends up to 51 mm.

Fur: The fur of Spotted Bats is long and silky.

The Spotted Bat is abundantly found in Mexico, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, Texas, Washington and British Columbia. They are found in western part of North America and stretches from British Columbia down to Mexico. The Spotted Bat can be found in the semi-arid regions of the western United States and northern Mexico.

Some Spotted Bats migrate from colder to warmer areas during the winter. They also go into torpidity in cold weather. This means that its body temperature will fall to that of their surroundings and its heart rate will slow down.

Spotted Bat lives in desert scrub and open forest areas. They perch in cliff faces and rock cracks. Spotted Bat loves to stay in open, dense deciduous and coniferous forests. They also prefer hay fields, marshes, deserts and dry shrub-steppe grassland areas.

The spotted bat feeds mainly on insects. It feeds completely on moths though. They rip off the wings of the moth and eat only the abdomen portion. Spotted Bats eat medium-sized moths, grass hoppers, beetles and caddis flies too.

The Spotted Bat has certain behavioral traits.

• They are solitary animals.
• The spotted bat is an insectivore.
• They perch in the small cracks found in cliffs and stony outcrops.
• Individuals fly in cryptic patterns from their roosting sites while foraging.
• Spotted Bat is territorial by nature.
• Spotted bats are known to maintain exclusive foraging areas. These areas range from 3 to 6 miles from their site of day roost. They stay in this area from about an hour after sunset till an hour before sunrise.
• Spotted Bats are high fliers.

The predators of Spotted Bat are owls, raccoons and dirty dogs. These are some of their few natural predators.

The adaptive features of this moderately large bat are quite attention grabbing.

• They are the only mammals who can fly.
• They hibernate when the seasons change.
• They are nocturnal beings and so Spotted Bats use echolocation to spot their prey.
• Spotted Bats can use their wings and tail membranes to catch insects.

Picture 2 - Spotted Bat Photo

The Calls of Spotted Bat are of low frequency and echo sounding. Spotted Bats make use of low frequencies ranging around 9-12 kHz. This is why they need open areas to stay.

Spotted Bats hibernate in cliffs. They hibernate in small groups.

The mating season of Spotted Bats usually takes place during the autumn season. Males in reproductive condition have been found in later half of the summer and after summer. Spotted Bat may mate later in the feeding season when they are heavy and in good physiological shape. Spotted Bats are solitary breeders.

Females give birth to one pup every year. If the spotted bats were “average” small mammals, then their young ones would be born in early phase of winter when bugs are sparse. However, many temperate zone bats have grown the physiological forte of delayed fertilization. The females confiscate the sperm during hibernation so that the sperm does not meet the eggs until spring. Hence, the bat pup is born and weaned during peak insect activity.

Young ones do not have the spots like the adult. The young ones do not have fully developed ears at birth. The newly born Spotted Bat is very small in size. It weighs around 4 to 5 grams, which is about one fourth of the mother’s weight. The pups are born blind and do not have any fur. Mothers look after their pups till they reach approximately 6 months of age.

Spotted Bat is known to live for about 20 years.

Spotted Bat is listed in the category of “Least Concern” by the IUCN.

Find out some of the interesting facts of this docile animal.

• The ears of the Spotted Bat are rolled up around its head when it sleeps.
• The echolocation of the Spotted Bats is so low that it cannot be heard by humans.
• The Spotted Bat inflates with blood and unrolls itself when it wakes up from slumber and is active.
• A newly born Spotted Bat is about the size of a green grape.
• The Spotted Bat is declared as threatened only in Nevada. They are state protected in Nevada.

Here are some of the astounding pictures of this mammal.

Picture 3 – Spotted Bat Image

Picture 4 – Spotted Bat Picture

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spotted_bat

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Euderma_maculatum.html

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/education/wildlife_notes/documents/NoteSptBatSm.pdf

http://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/bats/Spotted%20bat.php

The scientific name for this species of birds is “Phoebastria nigripes”.

Here is a brief general description of these birds.

Length: The length of their bodies lies between 28 inches and 36 inches.

Wingspan: These albatrosses have a wingspan ranging between 6.2 feet and 7.2 feet.

Weight: The males and female birds weigh around 3.4 kilograms and 3 kilograms respectively.

Bill: The bill of a black-footed albatross has a curved tip.

Color: The bodies of these albatrosses are almost entirely covered with black or brown plumage. The adult birds have white markings below the eye and around the lower parts of the beak. As these birds age, the base of their beaks acquires a whiter shade. Some adults display white undertail coverts. The feet and beak of black-footed albatrosses are also dark in color. The older birds have light gray marks around their heads, backs and rumps.

Picture 1 - Black-footed Albatross

Sexual Dimorphism: The males are larger in size than the females.

These birds mostly reside in the northern Pacific Ocean regions, ranging across the Hawaiian archipelago, the China Sea, Japan and in the western parts of North America including California as well as Baja California in the south.

Black-footed albatrosses do not have any specific migratory season. However, they do migrate from time to time in order to breed or while they are searching for their food. Their migratory range spans across the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands of Kure Atoll and Kaula Island, the Japanese islands of Bonin, Tori Shima and Senkaku as well as the islands off Mexican coast, like in Isla Guadalupe. Although primarily a bird of the northern hemisphere, they have occasionally been observed in the southern hemisphere as well.

Black-footed albatrosses are mostly found in open sea waters as well as in low, flat islands.

Observe the behavioral patternof this elegant bird.

• These birds are natural navigators and like to fly up to great distances in order to search for food.
• They often spend several years flying above the sea at a time, preferring to land only when they desire to breed.
• While on flight, black-footed albatrosses may not flap their wings for many hours or even for several days.
• As soon as a young black-footed albatross is ready to leave its nest, it will move out to the open waters and then return again only after five to six years when it decides to settle for a mate.
• These birds are monogamous by nature and mate for a lifetime.
• They often perform elaborate dancing rituals for attracting a potential mate.

Black-footed Albatrosses mainly feed on fishes, adult flying fishes, fish eggs, crustaceans, squids, carrion, floating offal and squid oil. They also consume plastics, garbage scraps and floating debris. These birds mostly feed themselves during nighttime.

Black-footed Albatrosses make squealing noises and shrieks while feeding themselves. These birds whistle, quack and groan during courtship. At other times, their call is a nasal tone of double-bray.

Black-footed albatrosses dynamically soar across the sky for long spans of time.

Picture 2 – Flying Black-footed Albatross

Black-footed albatrosses are mostly predated by tiger sharks, dogs, killer whales, feral cats, rats and big headed ants.

Here are some important adaptive features of these birds.

• These birds have a strong sense of smell which enables them to locate food while flying across vast stretches of ocean.
• They have special glands above their eyes which allow them to excrete excess salt in their bodies. This special adaptation comes in handy while they are spending long stretches of time in open sea waters. They drink the seawater and then these glands help them to get rid of the salt that is present in the water.
• The heads of black-footed albatrosses are equipped with an elaborate matrix of blood vessels which allow them to keep their bodies cool while nesting at hot, exposed sites.
• Like all other albatross species, these birds are efficient fliers and can spend several months flying at a stretch in the ocean. This helps them to evade any predators that might have attacked them on land.

The breeding season for these albatrosses runs annually from November through February.

Picture 3 - Black-footed Albatross Photos

Like all albatross species, black-footed albatrosses are monogamous and form lifelong bonds with their partners. The male and female albatross spends at least two to three years together before finally deciding to mate; a behavior that evolved to develop trust between the birds. The long courting period helps to make it sure that the other bird is committed.

Black-footed albatrosses breed in colonies. The males arrive first in the breeding grounds around October and either establish their new territories or reclaim their old nesting site from the previous year. The mating takes place three weeks later when the females arrive. Prior to mating, black-footed albatrosses indulge in a mating ritual which involve coiling their necks, flapping their wings, shaking their heads and touching their bills.

Black-footed albatrosses build nests which are like hollow depressions in sandy grounds. The female lays one egg which is white in color with reddish brown specks. In case the egg is lost due to predation or other natural causes, the pair will not breed again until the next breeding season. Both the birds take turns to incubate the egg for around 65 to 68 days, after which the hatchlings are born.

The young birds are born helpless, covered with furry feathers and have their eyes open. Both the parents brood the hatchlings in turns; one of the parents handle brooding responsibilities while the other flies out in search for food. The young birds become ready to move out of the nest after about 2 or 3 months, but they prefer to stay with the parents for at least six months.

The chicks are fed a diet of squid oil and flying fish eggs. The squid oil is rich with fatty acids which help to sustain the chicks for long stretches of time. Once a young wandering albatross becomes airborne, it is not going to land again unless it is prepared to breed, which can take as long as ten years.

These birds have an average lifespan of 20 to 40 years.

Black-footed Albatrosses have been classified under the “Endangered” category by the IUCN.

Here are some interesting facts about these birds:

• These birds are also sometimes referred to as “Diomedea nigripes”.
• Black-footed albatrosses are capable of circumnavigating the entire planet in less than 60 days.
• They can soar continuously for almost six days without even flapping their wings once.
• They are easily distinguished from other albatross species due to their dark plumage.
• A group of these birds are collectively referred to as a “rookery”, “flight” or “weight” of albatrosses.
• These birds also have a distinctly strong sense of smell.
• These birds are often in the habit of ingesting plastic materials which lead to their untimely deaths.

Here are some images showing the black-footed albatrosses in their playful activities.

Picture 4 - Black-footed Albatross Picture

Picture 5 – Black-footed Albatross Image

References:

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/blackfootedalb.htm

http://www.arkive.org/black-footed-albatross/phoebastria-nigripes/#text=All

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/456/_/black-footed_albatross.aspx

http://www.topp.org/species/black_footed_albatross

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/black-footed_albatross/sounds