Category: Birds
The Pacific Loon is a common site along the Pacific coast, as well as large lakes throughout its expansive range. Every year, during three months of summer, they departs their wintering grounds to breed in the inland Arctic tundra. Abundant water is always an important part of the Pacific loon’s habitat, as they cannot take flight from land and need 30-50 of open water to gain enough momentum for take-off.
“Bird Brain” should be taken as a compliment.
Calling someone a “bird brain” is an insult, but perhaps it should be reconsidered given how many birds display high intelligence and adaptability. For just a few examples, the kea from New Zealand can solve logical puzzles and work with other birds in order to acquire food, observations of Cormorants used by Chinese fishermen indicate that the birds can count up to seven, and many species of birds use simple tools such as sticks to help them acquire food or other items that catch their fancy! There is also a cockatoo named Snowball who can dance to the beat of Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself,” though whether this indicates intelligence or not may be a matter of debate or personal taste.
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Discover Animals is a web-based educational resource offered by the NAIA
