Water birds live all over the world and can be found near lakes, streams, ponds, oceans and seas.
Ducks and other waterfowl
Ducks, geese and other waterfowl are the water birds that we see all the time. Sometimes they fade into the background and we don’t even notice them, but they are some of America’s most recognized water birds.
These water birds get along well and will live in large colonies. Ducks are special because most duck species mate for life. This is unique in the bird world. These water fowl are used to interacting with humans because humans have been encroaching on their habitat for years.
Because water fowl are so bold and are not necessarily afraid of humans, they’re increasingly being considered pests. Home and business owners are spending great deals of money to keep these animals from traipsing on their property. These water birds don’t usually do any harm, but they are messy and will leave droppings all over the place. Droppings from these birds and other migratory birds can be dangerous because they can carry bird flu. Just remember not to touch the feces and always, always wash your hands when dealing with this water bird population.
Wading birds
Wading birds are another group of water birds that aren’t quite as common as water fowl. Wading birds also live all over the world, but they tend to stick to warmer areas because they spend a lot more time in the water.
Wading birds include egrets, herons and the ibis, to name a few. Not all wading birds have long legs, but most do. They use their long legs to keep them upright as the slowly walk through the water looking for pray. Some wading birds will pull their wings over their faces to create a shade canopy. This helps get a better glance of what’s going on underneath the water. Wading birds also have long flat bills or long pointed bills, which are used for digging in the mud for insects or for stabbing fish.
Seabirds
What would the world of water birds be without sea birds? Sea birds hang around seas and oceans, but they can also be found around lakes. One of the most well known sea birds is the seagull. Like water fowl, sea gulls live in large groups and they also have no problem interacting with humans. In fact, they love humans because humans give them food and trash, which they incorporate into their diet. These water birds are just fine scavenging for food, though they will take a stab at hunting fish.
