1. Birds in Aquatic Ecosystems

2. Why Birds?
Important predators of invertebrates, fish, mammals, reptiles and amphibians in aquatic ecosystems
Major vectors for transport of plants and wingless invertebrates
Interesting and ubiquitous members of aquatic communities
Along with fish, enjoy fairly broad support from the public
Good way to generate interest in habitat preservation/restoration

3. Family Gaviidae Gavia Loons Habitat: mainly northern lakes Notes:
Divers: feed mainly on fish
Very distinctive vocalizations
Alarm call
Short hoot
1 breeding sp. in MI: common loon (Gavia immer)
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

4. Family Ardeidae Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets
Habitat: Open wetlands, lakeshores, rivers
Notes:
Often seen stalking prey: feed mainly on fish, also amphibians and invertebrates
Egrets/herons often build nests in shrubs/trees and may be colonial breeders
Bitterns prefer dense emergent vegetation and tend to be solitary
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

5. Family Ardeidae Bitterns
2 spp. in Michigan
American bittern:
Call distinctive—like a piledriver in a puddle?
Secretive, often strikes vertical pose to blend in with vegetation

6. Family Ardeidae Herons and Egrets
6 spp regularly found in MI
Less secretive and more easily spotted than bitterns
Egrets are white, herons may be various colors
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

7. Family Accipitridae Hawks and eagles
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
Hawks and eagles
2 spp. that are most often found in MI aquatic ecosystems are:
Bald eagle (above)
Northern harrier (below)
Bald eagle found along rivers/wetlands, often preys on fish
Making strong recovery from very low numbers for last half of 20th century
Northern harrier often hovers over open wetlands, preys on small mammals, amphibians and other birds

8. Family Pandionidae Pandion haliaetus
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
Osprey (1 sp.)
Habitat: Mainly rivers and wooded edges of lakes
Notes:
Build enormous nests of sticks high off the ground, 3-5 ft in diameter
Feed mainly on fish but cannot swim—have been known to drown if they hook into too large a fish
As with many raptors, numbers have risen since elimination of DDT from the food web

9. Family Laridae Gulls and terns Ring-billed gull Common tern
Gulls tend to be thicker-billed and stouter; frequently walk
Facultative predator/scavenger
Terns are sleeker, designed for capturing fast prey
More predatory on small fish and invertebrates
May build nests on rocky shores, islands or floating mats of vegetation
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

10. Family Anatidae Ducks, geese and swans Very diverse aquatic family
Habitats vary, from wooded wetlands and rivers (wood duck) to open water (greater scaup)
Notes:
Many feed by dabbling, i.e., sifting through mud for nutritious invertebrates, seeds, shoots, etc.
Others are active predators of fish (e.g. mergansers)
Many valued by hunters—benefit (?) from conservation efforts
Webbed feet for swimming
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

11. Family Anatidae Ducks
Short-necked, often with colored primary feathers
Most species migratory
Most have sexually dimorphic coloration
Mallard (Anas platyrhyncos) very common and spreading in NA
Am. black duck (Anas rubipres) very closely related to mallard and disappearing due to interbreeding

12. Family Anatidae Geese and Swans
Longer-necked and usually larger than ducks
Mainly migratory--most prefer more northerly breeding ranges than ducks
Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is very common near water/grass in MI

13. Family Gruidae Grus canadensis
Sandhill crane
Habitat: migratory; wetlands critical for breeding success; past population declines mirrored wetland loss
Notes:
Omnivorous, but notorious for eating waterfowl eggs during breeding season
Elaborate mating dance
Social, gregarious bird

14. Family Alcedinidae Ceryle alcyon
Belted kingfisher
Habitat: waterways and lakes with available perches and abundant food
Notes:
Nest in 1-2 meter long tunnels, often in riverbanks
Voracious predator of small fish
Call is rattling

15. Family Charadriidae Sandpipers and phalaropes
Habitat: shores of lakes, wetlands, large rivers
Notes:
Speciose group (18 spp. commonly migrate through or reside in MI)
Size ranges from sparrow-sized to length of a small hawk
Many have very long legs/bills for wading and deep probing of the substrate for invertebrates

16. The End