The name of the birds that live on the water. Water birds. Description, names and features of waterfowl. Seagull and other interesting birds

World Water Day, which is celebrated annually on March 22, is a good occasion to remember how unique and diverse the water resources of Primorsky Krai are. The editors of PrimaMedia IA offer a selection of photographs in which our photojournalists captured the water monuments of the region, unique taiga rivers and sea beauties.

Reference: In accordance with the recommendations of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, International Water Day began to be celebrated in 1993. This memorable day is designed to draw public attention to the state of water bodies and think about the role of water in the life of every person on Earth; draw attention to the need to preserve and rational use water resources. In the Primorsky Territory, environmental activities are carried out within the framework of the program "Development of the water management complex of the Primorsky Territory".

Russian Amazon

Bikin River. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

The Far Eastern Bikin River, which flows on the border of the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, is also called the "Russian Amazon". The Bikin River, located on the territory of the national park of the same name, originates in the central part of Sikhote-Alin. Bikin is considered the most fishy river of the region - many species of fish live here, including those listed in the Red Book. Seven species of amphibians and 10 species of reptiles are also found here.

In 2010, the Bikin River Valley was included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

"Sea of ​​Bird Feathers"

Lake Khanka. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

"Hanhai-Omo", or "Sea bird feathers"- one of the ancient names of Lake Khanka. Khanka is the largest freshwater reservoir in the Far East, a transnational water body, and a natural monument of world importance (the international Russian-Chinese Khanka reserve is organized here). 24 rivers flow into Lake Khanka, but only one flows out - Sungacha, which connects it with the Ussuri.

marine reserve

Furugelm Island, Far Eastern Marine Reserve. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

The Far Eastern Marine Biosphere Reserve can claim the title of one of the wonders of Primorye, as the richest water area in terms of species diversity among the seas of Russia. There are more than two thousand species of marine animals and plants, including 67 species listed in the Red Book of Russia, and 50 species of birds from the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to scientists, more than two thousand spotted seals live on the territory of the Far Eastern Marine Reserve in Primorye.

Far Eastern Marine Reserve. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

This is the only nature reserve in Russia, 98% of the area of ​​​​which is a marine area. In 2003, for the conservation of the gene pool of marine and coastal communities, within the framework of the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" program, he was awarded international status.

seaside lagoon

Blueberry lake. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

Golubichnoye and Blagodatnoye lakes are unique lakes of lagoonal origin in the Sikhote-Alin Reserve. And if quite recently these protected water bodies were difficult to access, now tourists can safely visit them along the equipped ecological paths. Many representatives of flora and fauna that can be found on the trail are listed in the Red Book of Russia.

The most mountainous lake

Lake Alekseevskoe. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

The highest mountain lake in Primorsky Krai - Lake Alekseevskoye - is located at an altitude of 1.5 thousand meters above sea level, not far from the top of Mount Olkhovaya. The clear water of Lake Alekseevsky and the untouched natural landscapes of southern Primorye have made Mount Olkhovaya incredibly popular with tourists.

northernmost cape

Cape North. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

Cape Severny is the northern point of the Convenient Bay, the realm of stone placers, "Norwegian fjords" and changeable weather. From the observation point of Cape Severny, a panoramic view of the Udobnaya Bay and small stones sticking out of the water, on which lazy spotted seals (variegated seals) bask and cormorants dry their wings, opens up. Tourists can get here along the eco-trail of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve "Cape North".

Sedanka reservoir

Hydroelectric complex of the Sedanka reservoir. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

The reservoir at the Sedanka station is far from the largest, but it is the oldest in Primorsky Krai. Its capacity is about 6 million cubic meters, and the water supplied to Vladivostok from this reservoir is the cleanest in the city.

lotus lake

Lotus Komarov. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

Gusinoye Lake (Putyatin Island) is known among scientists and hunters as a wintering place for many migratory birds, and especially wild geese - hence the name.

Lake Gusinoye is one of the few lakes in the region where the Komarov lotus, listed in the Red Book of Russia, grows. 20 years ago, all shallow water was covered with a continuous carpet of lotus, and among the locals, and later - and tourists - this lake became known more as a lake of lotuses.

"Star of Primorye"

Benevsky waterfall. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

Benevsky waterfalls - a picturesque corner of the Primorsky taiga in the Lazovsky district. The first step of the waterfall - "Star of Primorye" - has 18 meters, and is the largest waterfall in the cascade. From the steep slope of the mountain, water falls into the bowl, forming columns of water dust around. In total, there are four waterfalls in the system, which are located on the slope of Mount Lysaya.

Amur Bay

Bridge de Vries in the Amur Bay. Photo: IA PrimaMedia

The water natural monuments of Primorye include not only reserved lakes, but also objects that are located near Vladivostok - literally at the seashore. The coastal areas of the Amur Bay received the status of specially protected natural areas in 1974, and the coastal strip from the Sadgorod station to the Sanatornaya station is still a favorite beach holiday destination for citizens.

The material was created within the framework of the PrimaMedia IA project " "The purpose of the project is to tell about how memorable dates are celebrated in Primorye - state and regional, professional holidays, Days of Military Glory of Russia.

Only about 300, or 3% of the total number, of bird species live on the coast and in the oceans, but the small number of species is offset by their abundance. Huge seabird colonies have been found in upwelling zones, such as in Antarctic waters and off the coasts of Peru and Chile. Albatrosses and some other seabirds spend almost their entire lives returning to land once every two years to hatch their chicks. Other birds, such as herons, ducks and cormorants, stay close to the coast all year round. Seabirds forage for food in different ways: they chase fish under water, chase other birds and force them to abandon their prey, or dive into the depths themselves.

Seabirds may return year after year to safe rocks and secluded islands to breed. They often form huge colonies to protect their eggs and chicks from predatory gulls, crows, and other intruders. The black and white plumage helps them camouflage themselves when they are looking for fish. On many seabirds for a long time hunted for their meat and eggs. Eggs often fall and break as they lie on bare rocks.

wandering albatross

The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan among birds - it reaches 3.5 m. Albatrosses plan rather than fly: they are able to plan from a height of up to 15 meters and get into an ascending air current that will lift them again. Albatrosses feed on fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, which are grabbed from the surface of the water.

divers

Many seabirds, including cormorants, brown pelicans, gannets and terns, are experienced divers falling like a stone from a great height (for example, cormorants dive 30 meters), they pick up such speed that they overtake prey at a considerable depth. Despite the difficulty of this method of catching, terns successfully grab prey in one case out of three. They have a strong skull that can withstand a blow to the water. Most pelicans are found near mainland waters and do not know how to dive. The brown pelican is predominantly a sea bird. Noticing the fish, he falls vertically down, straining his neck shortly before entering the water. After diving, it uses its expandable beak pouch (which all pelicans have) to grab more fish.

bird market

Guillemots breed chicks on the cliffs, settling closer to each other than any birds - often they nestle close. Up to 70 couples can fit on one square meter; their colonies are known as " bird markets". Despite the crush, each pair defends its tiny territory. Guillemots, like many other seabirds, lay their eggs directly on bare rocks. The colors and patterns of the shell are very varied, which helps parents to distinguish their eggs. They recognize the chicks by their voice.

common eider

Most seabirds and all sea ducks have webbed feet for better swimming. There are only a few species of true sea ducks, such as eiders and scoter. Eiders are common in northern Europe. Female eiders cover the nest with fluff, which I pluck from my own chest. In Scandinavia, such a downy bedding is taken out of nests and made into quilts or feather beds.

Frigate dandies

Frigatebirds are among the best flyers, they glide in the air currents, occasionally flapping their wings. Male frigatebirds have a red pouch around their necks that swells during mating. This is one of the most famous dandies among seabirds. Males gather at the nesting site in groups of up to thirty birds, flapping their wings, shaking them, tossing their heads and snapping their beaks when females fly by. When a female perches next to a chosen male, the pairs rub their necks and heads. Frigatebirds got their name because of the habit of getting food by taking it from other birds: frigatebirds are warships.

Toporki (dead ends)

Seabirds live in pairs, many pairs are inseparable for the rest of their lives. Tufted puffins lay one egg in a hole, which they dig with their beak in the turf on the rocks. In large colonies, puffins resemble a honeycomb because of the many holes. Tufted puffins are distinguished by their brightly colored beaks, which help them attract mates.

emperor penguins

The female emperor penguin lays a single egg, which the male then incubates for 64 days, laying on his own paws. After the chick hatches, the female brings him food. Penguins are the best swimmers among birds. They hunt for fish under water, pushing off with paws resembling flippers.

Did you know?

Rocky islets - the permanent home of sea birds - are covered with a thick layer of bird droppings, or guano. Guano is rich in phosphate and in some areas, such as the coast of Peru, it is mined and used as a fertilizer.

The white tern lays its egg riskily right on a tree branch, not caring about building a nest. A single egg is easy to hide from predators.

Seagulls are the most famous of the sea birds. They feed on fish and shellfish. Many cases are known when seagulls dropped oysters or saucer shells from a great height in order to break them on stones, and then eat them.

October 2nd, 2014

The Albatross is the largest sea bird in the world. Of the 21 albatross species worldwide, the wandering albatross is the largest, with a wingspan of up to 3.5 meters (11 ft) and a weight of up to 13 kg (28 lb). The combination of weight on such wings gives the effect of a natural glider. In fact, gliders can be thought of as being designed in the image of the albatross. This king of seabirds has learned to use his body mass for instant takeoff. It is believed that this species can travel 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) in just 12 days. Birds hunt and feed at night, such as squid or surface fish. No bird has a larger wingspan.

Let's take a closer look at it...

Photo 2.

For a sailor, birds appearing in the air are always a sure sign of the proximity of land. After all, no matter how far gulls, frigates or phaetons fly into the sea, they always return to the shore. But if you see a huge albatross soaring in the sea, know that the land is still very far away. The albatross is a typically oceanic bird. He feeds, and rests, and even sleeps in the open sea.

For flight, the albatross uses not so much the strength of its muscles as the jets of wind reflected from the slopes of the waves. In calm weather, these huge white birds usually sit on the ode. Anticipating the onset of calm, albatrosses leave these places. The petrels related to them behave in the same way. No wonder sailors associate the appearance of both with the approach of stormy weather. This is reflected in the very name of the birds - petrels.

Photo 3.

Albatrosses are the eternal wanderers of the sea; they are able to make huge air travels, covering thousands of miles in a short time. There is a known case when an albatross, ringed on Kerguelen Island in the Indian Ocean, fell into the hands of people for the second time near South America, that is, 10 thousand kilometers from the place of ringing.

The wandering albatross is the largest representative of the entire order of tube-nosed birds, which also include petrels and small petrels. The wingspan of a wandering albatross is 3-3.5 meters. On the high seas in windy weather, these birds often accompany ships. Without moving, but only shaking its wings, the albatross easily overtakes the ship, overtakes it, describes a wide arc around it, and then “hangs” behind the stern for a long time, waiting for something edible to be thrown out of the galley. Noticing the prey, the bird sits on the water, folds its long wings for a long time and collects food from the surface of the water. Then reappears astern.

Photo 4.

Catching a huge bird is not difficult at all: just put a piece of fat on a large fishing hook and throw the tackle overboard on a long strong cord. Taking advantage of gullibility, they were caught in a multitude in such a way as to get beautiful white feathers - another hobby of fashionistas. Although the fashion for albatross feathers has passed and now they are hardly hunted, these birds have become rare.

The nesting period of the wandering albatross lasts an unusually long time - almost whole year. During the breeding season, birds gather on the deaf, deserted islands of the southern hemisphere. For about two weeks, wedding ceremonies take place on the island. Birds arrange mating dances, shout loudly, take bizarre poses, rub their beaks. Then they break into pairs, and the female lays a single egg in a rock crevice, or even right in an open place.

Photo 5.

Hatching lasts two and a half months, the male and female constantly replace each other. For 8-9 months, the chick does not leave the nest, and the parents must feed it all this time. After a busy nesting period, the birds rest and gain strength for a whole year. It is clear that albatrosses are now becoming more and more rare - after all, there are fewer convenient nesting sites, more dangers, and these birds breed slowly - becoming sexually mature late - and nest every two years.

The philistine opinion that seabirds should be destroyed, as they supposedly cause damage to fisheries, has long gone into the realm of legends. Of course, many of them do feed on fish, but usually not at all of those species that are commercial. Even catching a certain amount of commercial fish, they bring a person more benefit than harm. Let us recall guano, eider down, the possibility (within reasonable limits) to collect eggs of bazaar birds, and the fact that a number of sea birds serve as an object of fishing. But, in addition, everyone must understand that sea birds - from a small tern to a huge albatross - are as necessary in the ocean as cuckoos, orioles and nightingales in a grove. Without birds, without their voices, without the crying of seagulls and the hubbub of bird colonies, the sea will be half dead. And who needs the dead sea?

Photo 6.

In recent years, much has been done to protect seabirds. They are no longer rapaciously and thoughtlessly destroyed for fleeting gain, for fun or for scrambled eggs for a snack. But in one respect the seabirds are getting worse year by year. Oil products entering the sea, whether the result of a disaster, negligence or indifference to environment are equally detrimental to seabirds. Their feather cover is smeared with fatty secretions of a special coccygeal gland. Birds constantly monitor their feathers, clean and oil them. From this, the feather becomes impervious to water.

Photo 7.

Birds do not drown afloat and do not freeze in cold water. Between the top layer of feathers and the bird's body there is always the necessary thermally insulating air layer. Oil spilled into the sea dissolves the natural protective fat, and then water penetrates under the feathers. Thousands of seabirds caught in the oil slick die from cold and various colds. On oil-stained wings, they cannot fly and starve to death. Now, in order to prevent them from dying, it is necessary not so much to protect them from the encroachments of poachers, but to maintain the purity of sea water. The latter, however, must be done not only for the sake of the birds.

Photo 8.

Albatrosses are eternal nomads, they not only do not have permanent habitats, but are in constant motion, covering the entire planet with their flights. Most of the time, albatrosses spend over the surface of the ocean far from the coast; it is quite normal for these birds not to see land for months and even years (albatrosses sleep on the surface of the water). The average flight speed of albatrosses is 50 km / h, but they can increase it up to 80 km / h. On such high speeds albatrosses can fly almost around the clock, overcoming up to 800 km per day! Geolocated albatrosses circled the globe in 46 days, some of them doing it multiple times. Interestingly, despite such “homelessness”, albatrosses nest in strictly defined places. Each species occupies nesting sites on certain islands (Falkland, Galapagos, Japanese, Hawaiian and many others), and each bird returns strictly to the place of its birth. Studies have shown that albatross nests are located on average at a distance of 22 m from the place where they themselves were born! Amazing accuracy and phenomenal topographical memory for birds that haven't seen land in years!

Photo 9.

But albatrosses have another interesting quality. The fact is that different types prefer to forage for food different places: some hunt near the coast at a distance of up to 100 km from the coastline, others - far from land. For example, the wandering albatross categorically avoids those areas of the ocean where the depth is less than 1000 m. But how birds determine the depth if they get food only at the surface of the water remains a mystery. During nesting on the islands, birds of different sexes can share food areas, for example, males of the Tristan albatross flew only to the west in search of food, and females only to the east.

Photo 10.

They use updrafts of air reflected from the surface of the ocean to move in the air. First, the albatross gains height, and then glides on spread wings, smoothly descending to the surface of the water and examining the water surface along the way. Descending by 1 m in height, the albatross manages to fly 22-23 m horizontally. The gliding and special design of the wing allows the birds to save energy, so they can stay in the air for hours without making a single wing beat. In complete calm, albatrosses are forced to flap their wings, but at this time they prefer not to rise into the air at all. For this reason, albatrosses have always been considered a sign of trouble among sailors, since their appearance near the ship meant the approach of a storm. For rest, albatrosses sit on the water, but on occasion they willingly use the masts and decks of ships. Because of the long wings, these birds have a hard time taking off; they take a run, preferring to take off from cliffs or steep slopes.

Photo 11.

Outside nesting territories, albatrosses are found singly, but in places rich in food, they can form aggregations with representatives of their own species, other species of albatrosses, as well as gulls, petrels, boobies. On occasion, they track the movement of feeding whales, killer whales and fishing boats, willingly picking up the remains of someone else's prey or fishing waste. Albatrosses treat their fellows and other birds calmly, the nature of these birds is very meek and trusting, for example, on nesting albatrosses they can let a person come close to them.

Albatrosses feed on fish, squid and crustaceans, but they can also eat small plankton and carrion. Some species prefer fish, while others prefer squid. Albatrosses track down their prey from the air and grab from the surface of the ocean with their beak on the fly, but if necessary, these birds can dive from the air or from the surface of the water to a depth of 12 m.

Photo 12.

Albatrosses are monogamous birds, they remain faithful to a partner all their lives and recognize him after many months of absence. The process of forming a couple stretches for years. For the first few years, young birds fly to nesting sites and lek, but do not find a partner for themselves, as they do not fully know sign language. Over time, they hone their skills and find a suitable partner, and birds of the same pair form their own unique "family" set of signals. Interestingly, the established pair ceases to lek over time, that is, albatrosses use the mating ritual only to create a pair, and not to mate at all. The mating ritual is reduced to sorting out the feathers of oneself and one's partner, turning the head, throwing back the head and loud cackling, flapping the outstretched wings, clicking the beak and grabbing the partner's beak (“kisses”). The voice of albatrosses resembles a cross between the cackling of a goose and the neighing of a horse.

A wandering albatross performs a mating song in front of a female.

Albatrosses always lay only 1 large egg and incubate it in turn. Change of partner occurs very rarely - from once a day to once every three weeks. All this time, the birds sit motionless on the nest and do not eat anything, while significantly losing weight. The incubation period of albatrosses is the longest among all birds - 70-80 days.

Black-browed albatross female with chick.

Parents first incubate and heat the hatched chick in turn: while one parent sits on the nest, the second hunts and arrives with prey. For the first three weeks, the chick is fed with small pieces, which the parents regurgitate to the chick, then both adult birds leave the nest and visit it less and less. True, at one time they bring a large amount of food (up to 12% of their own body weight), but it is customary for albatross chicks to sit alone in the nest for several days. During feeding, the chicks accumulate in their stomachs an oily mass of semi-digested food, which serves as their energy reserve.

The giant wandering albatross chick has spent almost a year in the nest.

The nesting period for albatrosses is unprecedentedly long - the chicks leave the nest after 140-170 (for small species) or 280 (for the wandering albatross) days. During this time, they manage to molt twice and gain weight in excess of the weight of an adult bird. The upbringing of the chick ends with the fact that the parents finally leave the nest, and the chick ... remains. He can spend a few more days or weeks in the nest until the molt ends, then the chicks go ashore on their own, where they develop wing flapping for some more time. Often, the chicks spend this non-flying period on the water and at this time they are very vulnerable to sharks, which specially come to the islands to hunt the chicks. Apart from sharks, albatrosses have practically no natural enemies. Young albatrosses fly from their birthplaces to the ocean, only to return here after a few years. The coloration of young birds is always darker than that of adults; over the years, they gradually lighten. Puberty in these birds comes very late - by 5 years, but they begin to participate in reproduction only from 9-10 years. Low fecundity and late maturity compensates for a long lifespan, albatrosses live up to 30-60 years!

The remains of an albatross with plastic debris that the bird ingested while alive.

In the old days, albatross nesting sites were used by sailors and whalers for eggs, blubber and down. Eggs were collected by hand, fat was rendered from chicks, and fluff was collected from their carcasses. At one time, several tens of thousands of eggs and several tons of fat could be imported from the island. The mass slaughter of already infertile albatrosses at nesting sites led to a sharp reduction in their numbers, and in the 18th-19th centuries, the colonization of the islands by people was added to this disaster. The colonists brought cats, dogs and cattle with them to the islands, which disturbed the nesting birds and destroyed the chicks. In addition, albatrosses were shot from ships for entertainment and even caught with bait, like fish. Many species of albatrosses are endangered. The rarest are the Amsterdam, Chatham and white-backed albatrosses, the latter was already recognized as extinct in 1949, but, fortunately, several pairs survived. Careful protection has led to an increase in the number of this species to several hundred individuals, which, of course, cannot be called a prosperous state.

Photo 13.

Nowadays, albatrosses suffer from pollution of the ocean with garbage and oil products: oil stains the plumage of birds and makes it unsuitable for flight, and albatrosses often take garbage for prey and try to swallow it. The accumulation of debris in the stomach eventually leads to the death of the bird. Currently, out of 21 species of albatrosses, 19 are listed in the Red Book! To protect these beautiful birds Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, France, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador have signed the Albatross and Petrel Conservation Agreement.

Photo 14.

Photo 15.

Photo 16.

Photo 17.

Photo 18.

Photo 19.

sources

http://www.animalsglobe.ru/albatrosi/

http://www.seapeace.ru/population/birds/32.html

http://animalbox.ru/birds/stranstvuyushhij-albatros

May I remind you of something else interesting birds: here's an example, and here's an amazing one. Find out why The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy is made -

Thousands, and maybe even more, years ago, seabirds separated from the total huge number of birds living on land. Their names are very diverse and depend on belonging to a particular order or family.

Classification

There is the following classification of seabirds:

Seabird family: description

These birds, in comparison with their other counterparts belonging to other groups, are considered long-livers. In general, their life cycle has a slightly shifted time frame. For example, representatives of the marine group pair and breed much later than their associates. Over the entire cycle, they have a smaller number of chicks, but they devote relatively more time to their offspring. Life expectancy is also greatly increased. Seabirds usually nest in numerous colonies. Some of them live permanently in one locality, others can migrate every year over considerable distances, and some even make air travel around the entire Earth.

There are varieties that spend almost their entire life cycle away from the coast, in the endless waters of the oceans. And their brothers settle only on land, setting off to drift on the waves only for the sake of prey. However, in addition to these two opposite types, there is also a third. Its representatives spend part of their time in the coastal zone, and the other - in the waters of the seas and oceans.

As one would expect, the world of birds was not without human intervention. People often used birds as a source of food. And for experienced fishermen and experienced sailors, they served as a guide. Of course, human activity does not go unnoticed, and now many species are on the verge of extinction. Unfortunately, some exist only on the pages of the Red Book.

Birds and their structure

Specialists who have a wealth of knowledge about the characteristic features of a particular species can easily determine how its representatives eat, how they hunt and in what area they live. Of great importance is the shape and length of the wings. So, representatives of birds, which have a small scope, belong to the species of diving. Whereas birds with long wings most often live in deep ocean areas. For example, the wandering albatross is a bird that travels countless kilometers in the hope of feasting. However, representatives of this species eventually squander their ability to fly long distances. Many of them have already chosen bays or piers where fishing boats often moor.

Everything in nature tends to adapt itself to convenience. Why fly into the endless expanses of water, if food is so available on the shore? Albatross is a bird that even slightly changed the structure of its wings in the process of evolution. Now these beauties often do not use the active flight technique, but have changed to dynamic or inclined soaring. That is, albatrosses simply catch the flow of air masses and maneuver.

Webbed feet and the sense of smell

Almost all seabirds have webbed feet, which makes it much easier for them to move in the water. But this is not all the advantages of the structure. For example, many petrels have a highly developed sense of smell. Thanks to this, they can accurately determine the location of prey in the vast expanses of the ocean.

Cormorant - a bird with a special structure of feathers

All representatives of marine species, except for cormorants and certain varieties of terns, have plumage soaked in a layer of fat. This water-repellent property provides reliable protection against getting wet, while dense down ensures a constant body temperature even in cold water. The cormorant is a bird that has an advantage over its other relatives, which consists in the special structure of feathers. This allows him not to freeze even if you have to dive a lot and for a long time. More specific gravity provides this representative of birds with the possibility of a long stay under water.

Penguin

Almost all representatives of the seabird family have a plumage color of black, gray or white tones. However, there are birds that have brighter and more colorful colors. For example, a penguin is a bird, certain types which are the owners of multi-colored plumage in the neck and chest. Color is very important in the wild. Its main function is camouflage, that is, the ability to merge with colors a certain area. This allows not only birds, but all animals to hide from the attack of a predator or not to give themselves away while hunting for prey.

Description

The penguin is the bird that scientists believe is the most socialized. Their colonies have a huge number of individuals. Most life cycle they spend in the water. Penguins go on land only to conceive and raise offspring. The peculiarities of their structure allow these representatives of the feathered family to survive in conditions of extremely low temperatures. Dense straight plumage creates a powerful barrier to the cold.

Heavy bones and wings that act as fins make penguins frisky swimmers, able to dive very deep. The streamlined shape of the body helps them perfectly cut through the expanses of water, and in case of danger - deftly get away from the predator. Their feathers do not get wet and effectively retain heat due to the constant treatment with fat secreted by the gland in the tail area. All species except the emperor penguin nest. They settle in the rocks, preparing a place for future offspring from stones and earthy breasts. Those who do not need nests place the eggs under the skin sac. There is also a chick for the first time after birth. In a pair, the female and male take turns incubating the egg.

Seagull and other interesting birds

Another waterfowl is the seagull. It feeds mainly on small fish. It obtains food in various ways: catching on the surface, diving from the air to a certain depth, hunting under water with pursuit, and does not disdain representatives of higher vertebrates.

The first principle is explained by the presence of various water currents, which often contribute to pushing the small inhabitants of the seas and oceans to shallow depths. This is what the birds are waiting for, being on the surface. They just need to dip their heads into the water, as the prey is in the beak. The second type of food production is used by typhoons, frigates and storm petrels. They deftly soar above the sea surface, making an instant dive into the water and picking up food on the go. Most of them have a hard time taking off if they land on the water surface. Some gulls, including petrels, on the contrary, hunt afloat. Although the previous type of hunting is by no means alien to them. Sooty albatrosses, slender-billed petrels and many other seabirds can dive to depths of up to 70 m in pursuit of prey. Of particular importance is the structure of the beak. So, many albatrosses have lamellar outgrowths around the perimeter, which allows them to filter and retain plankton from the water. Phaetons, boobies, terns and pelicans dive into the waves directly from a height. They often work in tandem with other ocean dwellers.

Since water must have a maximum degree of transparency for effective viewing from the air, hunting in the wild does not always occur according to the intended principle. When visibility is limited, members of this species look for concentrations of dolphins as well as tuna. When swimming, they help push schools of fish to a shallow depth from the surface, where they are caught by pelicans and the like.

Settlements of bird colonies are found in tropical latitudes, for example, in the Pacific Islands. Christmas, outside the Arctic Circle - in Antarctica. Albatrosses breed in small numbers, while guillemots and guillemots hold the record for colony density.

hatchets and guillemots

The northern seabird is a frequenter of numerous traditional bird bazaars. Hatchet and guillemot are considered the champions among those who are able to gather in such a densely populated area. Thanks to their short wings, they are excellently immersed in water, providing themselves with food. These representatives can be called the most adapted to sea waters. Their chicks, which are not yet able to fly, fall out of their nests in the rocky terrain right into the waves.

This is where they feed and grow. Many at the same time, of course, die, breaking on the rocky terrain. When cold weather approaches, all the inhabitants of the colonies fly away into the endless expanses of water. Some of the seabirds are migratory. They wait out the cold in warmer regions, then return home. Others are nomadic. Many seabirds fly long distances, sometimes changing latitude, and can only return to their birthplace in a circle. Sometimes the entire life cycle is not enough for such a route.

Conclusion

Seabirds, like many other inhabitants of the waters, often become victims of environmental disasters or poaching. The number of birds largely depends on human actions.

Cold and inhospitable, eternally restless Sea of ​​Okhotsk - wind, rain and fog are frequent guests here. In terms of the number of days with precipitation and fog, the entire coast of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bOkhotsk is comparable only to St. Petersburg or London. The climate here is harsh - and this is putting it mildly. Winters are long and snowy, while summers are short and cool. Most of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk freezes in winter - huge ice fields and sharp-sided ice floes wander through its expanses of water all summer. Twice a day the sea advances on land, generous tides carry these icebergs along the bays and drive them into the Tatar Strait. With the departure of water, the remnants sit on the lays and slowly melt in the sun.

However, the Sea of ​​Okhotsk is the richest of the Russian seas, it is overflowing with myriads of plant and animal organisms that inhabit not only the water column, but also the bottom. Many species of algae, protozoa, sponges, jellyfish, worms, molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms are all permanent inhabitants of the deep sea.

And all this variety of life forms makes up the food chain, at the top of which are fish, marine animals and sea ​​birds.

The Bering Sea differs little from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk - the same powerful ice in the coastal zone. Along its shores are the eternal paths of spring and autumn migrations of most waterfowl seabirds. Gulls, sandpipers and other birds ply here.

Along the coasts of the northern seas and along unfrozen areas of water, only a few well-diving species of ducks and cormorants stay. Yes, even flocks of seagulls looking for food among the waste of fisheries. First-class flyers roam here - petrels and albatrosses, and sometimes a southerner frigate flies.

On the rocky shores of the Shantar Islands, the islands of Iona, Nansikan, Karaginsky, Verkhoturov and some others, there are bird colonies - entire settlements with a population of many thousands of a wide variety of sea birds. Guillemots, gulls, cormorants and many others are the original inhabitants of these colonies. The benefits of such coexistence are obvious - the strict protection of the territory from predators, the convenience of nesting and wide opportunities for reproduction.

And all this despite fierce competition, both intraspecific and between representatives of different classes. And even though all the seabirds in the settlement speak different languages, alarm signals, usually given by guard gulls, are understandable to everyone.

Many species of the feathered class of the seas jointly feed and warm both their own and other chicks. And, of course, only the sea, with its food reserves, is able to saturate this entire armada, the main ingredients of which are plankton and fish.

All migratory birds the seas are in their homeland, as a rule, much less time than outside it. Many of them alternately visit several geographical zones during the year. The number of seabirds in the bazaars in different years and in different latitudes is not constant. In addition to weather conditions, man also had a hand in reducing the population of such settlements.

Therefore, we must protect the bird markets - this is a true decoration of the rocky shores of our seas.