BIORESOURCE PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

 

Water birds

by Nivedhitha Venugopal

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Bird is an animal with feathers. All birds have feathers, and they are the only animals that have them. But when people think of birds, they usually think first of their flying ability. All birds have wings.

The fastest birds can reach speeds of well over 160 kilometers per hour. No other animals can travel faster than birds. However, not all birds can fly. For example, ostriches and penguins are flightless. Instead of flying, ostriches walk or run. They use their wings only for balance. Penguins swim. They use their wings like flippers.

People have always been fascinated by birds. Their marvelous flying ability makes them seem to be the freest of all animals.

 Many birds have gorgeous colours or sing sweet songs. The charms of birds have inspired poets, painters, and composers. Certain birds also serve as symbols.

People have long regarded the owl as a symbol of wisdom and the dove as a symbol of peace. The eagle has long represented political and military might. Birds also played a role in the development of the aeroplane. Inventors built successful planes only after they patterned the wings after the shape of a bird's wings.

There are about 9,300 species (kinds) of birds. The smallest bird is the bee hummingbird, which grows to only about 5 centimeters long. The largest bird is the ostrich, which may grow to about 2.5 meters tall.

There are some birds that strive mainly around the water sources termed water birds or sea bird.

Some Water Birds: (visit 'photo gallery')