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The refuge also administers the Shiawassee Management District which coordinates wetland restorations in 22 counties and oversees conservation easements in 44 counties of lower Michigan. The refuge is authorized to expand its present boundaries by 7,500 acres (30 km 2 ) along the Tittabawassee, Shiawassee, and Cass rivers from willing sellers.
The span between precocial and altricial species is particularly broad in the biology of birds. Precocial birds hatch with their eyes open and are covered with downy feathers that are soon replaced by adult-type feathers. [17] Birds of this kind can also swim and run much sooner after hatching than altricial young, such as songbirds. [17]
On the surface of the water they swim low with just the head and neck exposed. All species have lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. The feet are always large, with broad lobes on the toes and small webs connecting the front three toes. The hind toe also has a small lobe as well. The claws are similar to nails and are flat.
Birds from temperate North America east of the Rocky Mountains migrate to the southern United States and southern British Columbia. It is often a year-round resident where water remains open in winter. The number of birds that stay year-round near the northern limit of the species' range seems to be increasing. [20] [21]
Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body. Four species have been recorded in Michigan. Common loon, Gavia ...
The birds spend the nights on the sandbars and in shallow water of the Wisconsin River and fly out to forage in fields during day. Most years the river freezes or snow covers the fields in ...
The eggs do not all hatch together. Both parents incubate and feed the young, who leave the nest soon after they hatch and are able to fly within a month. They migrate to the southern United States and northern South America. Sora is a very rare vagrant to western Europe, where it can be confused with spotted crake. However, the latter species ...
Spring is here and some tiny, feathered friends will soon be returning to Iowa. Hummingbirds, the birds who get their name from the sound their fast wings make, can expect to be spotted for ...