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1\ Catherinj of &Aterfowl 1\ Catherinj of &aterfowl from a forthcoming book "A Gathering of Waterfowl". bV Frank S. Todd • Corporate Curator ofBirds. Sea World - San Diego, California, Ohio and Florida Chapter One INTRODUCTION TO THE TRUE WATERFOWL The kaleidoscopic colors and patterns wild fowl. Likewise, egrets, herons, flamin­ From an economic standpoint. water­ associated with the avian world make it gos and storks thought of as waders, fowl are among the most valuable of all difficult, if not impossible, to select a while cormorants, gulls, penquins, peli­ birds. They have probably been admired single group of birds as the most spectac­ cans, and puffins are loosely called "sea more and exploited to a greater degree ular. However, if one were faced with birds". than most other bird groups. One need such a choice, it could easily be the The closest surviving relatives of wild­ only consider how dependent many waterfowl. As a long-time waterfowl fowl are the bizarre screamers of South people are on wildfowl and their eggs as enthusiast, I believe this selection to be a America; so close in fact, that they a food source. In the western world the logical one for a number of reasons. occupy a position in the same order, the rearing of these birds for food is not of Ducks, geese and swans not only often Anseriformes. This relationshjp is quite major importance. but in less affluent have brightly colored plumages and occur puzzling to non-biologists because regions, particularly in Asia, domestic in a great variety of diverse shapes, sizes screamers don't even remotely resemble a ducks are frequently as common as and forms, their lifestyles are such that duck or a goose. Rather, they are more chickens in America. In North America sooner or la tel' most people are exposed like huge chickens. Screamers are basical­ and Europe waterfowl hunting is a major to them. Their relatively large size and ly terrestrial birds and although they lack sport, an industry that contributes bil­ highly social nature quickly draws our webbed feet, they are excellent swimmers. lions of dollars to the economy each year. attention to them. The center of distribu­ Some contemporary specialists believe At the same time the escalating conflict tio of waterfowl occurs in the northern that flamingos are also closely related to between hunters and protectionists has hemisphere, not in the tropics like many wildfowl and may represent an ancient spawned a great deal of intense con tro­ families of exotic birds. Some of the most offshoot. Tms opinion is based on ana­ versy in recent years. beautiful and striking birds that ever tomical similarities and the fact that Life on earth extends back in to the graced thjs planet fall within this group. much flamingo behavior closely parallels spectrum of time for more than two bil­ In essence, they combine many of the that of true waterfowl; even their feather lion years but man, as we presently know qualities that man finds aesthetically parasites suggest an affinity with geese. him, has only existed for 500,000 to one pleasing about birds, and of all the birds, Their vocalizations are distinctly goose­ million years. Waterfowl are far more waterfowl are perhaps the most fascinat­ like and interestingly, newly hatched ancient; their origin da tes back some 50 ing to observe. There are relatively few flamingo chicks are superficially remark­ to 80 mi]]jon years ago, which makes individuals who will not admit they have ably similar to young goslings. them relative newcomers when compared at least a passing interest in those colorful Ducks, geese and swans were among to many other life forms. Birds originally and fascinating winged creatures known the first birds to be domesticated by evolved from reptiles and are sometimes as waterfowl. man. Greylag geese, for example, were referred to as 'glorified reptiles" by non­ Ducks, geese and swans are all closely domesticated at least 4,000 years ago sentinlental paleontologists. It is believed related and collectively are referred to as and may be the oldest of the domestic that birds began to branch off from rep­ waterfowl or wildfowl. They comprise birds. Originally, wa terfowl were un­ tilian stock some 150 mjj[ion years ago, the avian family Anatidae. and conse­ doubtedly majntained as a food source shortly before the emergence of the first quently are sometimes called anatids by and later for ornanlental and aesthetic mammals, wmch also evolved from rep­ ornithologists. Although they resemble purposes as well. Written allusions to tiles, but independently. Archaeopteryx other groups of water birds in many re­ waterfowl date back some 2,500 years is the earliest recognized avian fossil, spects, these similarities are merely super­ and artistic depictions even earlier. Prim­ dating from the Jurassic Period approxj­ ficial and have resulted because of their itive rock carvings of swans fashioned by mately 140 million years ago. Undoubt­ similar lifestyles. Many casual observers Cro-Magnon man in northern Russia edly there were earlier birds or birdlike assume that all water birds are wildfowl have been unearthed as well as cave creatures, but remains of these have yet bu t the 151 species of ducks, geese and paintings of waterfowl in neolithic sites to be discovered. swans found on the plant stand alone. inhabited at least 20,000 years ago in Fossil remains of waterfowl and other Coots, grebes and loons, which also live Spain, France and Italy. Waterfowl are birds are scarce since they are relatively on wa tel' and are similar in profile, are just as intriguing to modern man and the frajl creatures; their bones are fragile not even distantly related. Stilts, sandpip­ literature concerning them is probably because most are hollow, a condition ers and avocets are shorebirds rather than the most extensive of any avian group. necessary for flight. Therefore, avian 21 bones do not stand the test of time very niches and some of the more familiar well. In fact, most fossil waterfowl spec­ species are widely distributed. The ranges ies have been described mainly from only of the common mallard and northern a few disarticulated bones. The earliest pintail, for example, encompass most of recognizable wild fowl fossil on which the northern hemisphere whereas others, most experts agree upon comes from such as the white-eyed duck of Madagas­ the upper Eocene Period, dating back car, is restricted to a few small lakes on a some 40 to 50 million years. Avian single island. Although they may have paleontologists have identified about a originated in tropical or southern regions, hundred extinct forms, including one waterfowl have most successfully colon­ RT. 1, BOX 218M • RED BLUFF, CA 96080 family, two subfamilies, 22 genera, 92 ized the extensive grasslands and tundras (916) 527-6465 species and three subspecies. of the north temperate and Arctic zones. Swans are my only business. The never-ending process of evolu­ Most waterfowl are excellent swim­ tion has been particularly productive mers, having comparatively short legs and • with birds. Thousands, and perhaps strongly webbed front toes. However, the PAIRS OR SINGLES millions, of species have evolved over the Ne-ne goose, magpie goose and Cape Bar­ Accurately Sexed, Correctly Pinioned years only to ultimately disappear, and ren goose are exceptions and are more Mute Swans. Australian Blacks today there are approximately 8,650 terrestrial and consequently exhibit great­ Black-Necked. Trumpeters living species of birds divided into 27 ly reduced foot webbing. As a swimming orders and 155 families. The anatids adaptation, the legs of most waterfowl PAIRS START• AT $295.00 comprise but one of these orders and are usually placed far back on the body, families, but they are among the most forcing the birds to move with a waddling divergent yet homogenous of all bird Aluminum groups. While ducks, geese and swans range in size from the tiny pygmy goose Leg Bands weighing but ten ounces to the massive trumpeter swan which may exceed 30 PROMPT SERVICE. HIGH QUALITY pounds with a wing span of 8 to 10 feet, ORDER 1977 BANDS all species are easily recognizable as Coded Parakeet Closed Bands. waterfowl. Regular Initial Type Bands, not coded, Waterfowl are cosmopolitan in distri­ in choice of colors, open or closed. bution and occur on all continents with Plastic Family Identification Bands the possible exception of Antarctica. for keets or canary, choice of colors. However, a South Georgia pin tail was Leg Band Cutters. Bird Claw Scissors. discovered on the Antarctic peninsula SEN D SE LF-ADDRESSED STAMPED near the United States Antarctic Re­ ENVELOPE FOR COMPLETE PRICE LIST. search Station Palmer in January of 1975. RED BIRD Topographic barriers such as mountain ranges or oceans are not major factors PRODUCTS, INC. in determining their distribution 2786 Fruitridge Road since most species can fly /' P.O. Box 20004 (Dept. A.F.A.) over them. Wildfowl ex- /_ Sacramento, CA. 95820 ploit a tremendous / variety of ecological QUAIL FOR SALE Normal Buttons $6.00 pair Silver Buttons $12.00 pair Harlequins.. _ -$18.00 pair Northern Black-bellied Whistling Duck 8051 968-4024 DOUGAL HOUSE 7340 Hollister Avenue Goleta, CA. 93017 22 gait when they are ashore. To maintain their balance, the center of gravity must be shifted above the supporting leg. Be­ cause of the wide body and relatively short legs, displacement of the center of gravity can only be effected by rotation and shift to the side, thus bringing about the characteristic waddle. Their buoyancy in the water is due mainly to internal air sacs, not to air held in the feathers as some writers suggest. These air sacs extend into the body cavity as well as into some of the long bones and connect with the lungs.
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