Liz Butler Draws The ROM: Multi-Tasking Waterfowl!
Hi ROMKids!
This week I was back to the Gallery of Birds to look at waterfowl: a common eider, a common merganser, and a greater white-fronted goose. These birds are extra awesome because they can navigate on land, in water, and in the air!
Like most sea birds, common eiders take advantage of their amphibious abilities by nesting on land and eating food from the water. Eiders particularly like to eat shellfish and crustaceans, and they have a pretty unique way of doing so; eiders dive all the way to the sea floor to find their favourite foods.
Common mergansers also dive for their food, but have much more active prey to pursue. Mergansers use their keen eyes to find fish and other small animals and invertebrates, and then chase their prey through the water. Once they catch their prey, a serrated beak edge helps the merganser to keep a grip on slippery food items.
The greater white-fronted goose takes a different approach to eating than the eider or the merganser. These geese use a feeding technique known as dabbling. Dabbling birds feed at the surface of the water, tipping their heads under the water while their legs and tails stay above the surface. It might be silly looking, but it’s a good way to forage for plants in shallow water! Greater white-fronted geese also eat foods on land, including seeds and grasses.
What species of waterfowl can you see in your own city or town? How are their behaviours similar or different to those of the common eider, common merganser, or greater white-fronted goose? Make some notes on your discoveries, or even some sketches!
More info:
- Liz Butler is an artist and teacher who loves natural history and museums. She loves drawing, painting, and making crafts of all kinds. She is happiest when she can find ways to combine art projects with science content.
- Liz’s Website – Liz Butler Draws
- Liz’s Blog – Saw Whet Studio
- More guest posts from Liz HERE!
- Do you like to sketch? Love museums? Are you a full time student in Canada? The ROM is yours to explore, FREE, every Tuesday! MORE!
Guest Post By Liz Butler. Last Updated: July 21st, 2014.
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