Birds

Andean Condor
Vultur gryphus

Andean Condors, one of the world's magnificent vultures, inhabit the coast of Peru and Argentina. They can also be found in the Andes Mountains

These vultures are covered with black feathers. The upper side of the wings is white. The collar of the condors is circled with a layer of white feather. Male Andean Condors have a fleshy crest on the head. When these creatures spread their wings, the wingspan could reach up to 10 feet (3m). On an average Andean Condors weigh about 26 pounds (12kg).

These condors feed on dead animals, and fish.

The females lay their eggs in caves, holes, and among boulders. They reproduce every 2 years. On an average female Andean Condors lay 1 - 2 eggs. The average incubation period is 50-60 days.

Human's destruction of their habitat, and food source are their main reasons for nearingextinction. If humans don't destroy their needs, they shoot or poison them. 

BALD EAGLE
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Bald eagles, the American symbol, mostly inhabit western Canada, Alaska, and sparsely spread throughout the lower 48 states. They congregate in northwestern Pacific, Florida, upper Great Lakes, and Chesapeake Bay. The bald eagles nest their home high up on fork branches of trees or on mountain cliffs.

Adult eagles have black-brown bodies, yellow beaks and legs, and white heads and tails. It takes 4 years for the plumage to develop. The growth of the plumage indicates the eagles' maturity and attracts mates. A fully-grown eagle can be, on an average, 30-40 inches (75-107.5cm) long. When they spread their wings, the wingspan can reach up to 8ft (2.4cm) wide.

These birds of prey often feed on fish and carrion. Once in a while they would catch rabbits, squirrels, or waterfowls. Bald eagles use their sharp beaks and talons to hunt down their victims. When they see their prey, the eagles launch a surprise attack. They would dive down quickly in hope to catch their lunch. When near the prey, the eagles use their sharp talons to grab hold of their food. These predators are said to be opportunistic, which means that they adapt to the availability of food.

Both parents incubate and care for their young. The usually clutch size is 2 eggs. The incubation period is about 34-36 days.

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), a pesticide, once used to kill off pest in farmlands endangered the eagle population. This pesticide decreased the reproduction rate of the eagles. Since it was banned in 1960, the population of the bald eagle is making a comeback. Now there are about 30,000 eagles in Alaska and Canada, and about 2,500 in the 48 states. Another reason the eagles are endangered is that hunters shoot them or they use poisoned carrion as bait to catch them.

The bald eagle was adopted as the American symbol in 1782 for its "fierce and independent image." On the contrary, bald eagles are timid creatures. 

Black Winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus

Black Winged Stilts originated in southern Europe. People, however have seen them bred in London, England. They like to live around marshes or lagoons with open water. These birds are rare in their occurrence.

These stilts have black solid back. The upper side of their wings are also black. The plumage is white. The males, however, have brownish heads. The bills are straight. Their long and sharp bill is used in picking insects from the water as food. The stilts can be as large as 15 inches (38.1cm).

Black Winged Stilts live in nests. These birds share in a loose colony or stay in a small group. They prefer to build their nests near tussocks in low water or on dry ground. 

Black Palm Cockatoo
Probosciger aterrimus

Black Palm Cockatoos live in the scrubland and open forest of New Guinea. They are the largest of the cockatoos. Black Palm Cockatoos have a grayish color and a red patch of feather around the eye and the beak area. On an average they can be 30 inches (75cm) long.

These birds eat mostly seed, fruits, and sometimes they will pick on insects larvae. An advantage the Black Palm Cockatoos have is their hard bill. The bill can crack open thick shell fruits of various tropical palms. They are most active at midday. At this time all the cockatoos gather to find food.

On an average, female cockatoos lay 2-5 eggs. The incubation period for these eggs is about 48 days. Both parents share in incubating and feeding of the young. The parents of the cockatoos usually remain with their offspring for two months.

The Black Palm Cockatoos are now endangered because of loggers destroying their habitat. Trees in the forest are cut down and decrease their home. Also, because of the high demand of them as pets, these birds die during shipping or they don't adjust to the new environment and suffer severely. 

Greater Flamingo 
Phoenicopterus ruber

The Greater Flamingos are distributed throughout the world. They could be found in the Caribbean, Africa, Southwest Europe, and Asia. They live on shallow lakes and coastal water. Greater Flamingos make their nests out of mud. They are shaped like a cone with hollow top.

Flamingos are pink with a long neck. They also have long, slender legs. On an average, flamingos can grow up to a height of 57 inches (145cm).

Flamingos consume small insects, shrimp-like animals, and tiny plants like diatoms and algae. These foods can be found in water with high concentration of saline or alkaline salt. To get their food, Greater Flamingos reach down with their long necks and in the water. In their bill are arrangements of comb - like plates called lamellae. The lamellae strain out the food and drain out the water.

They are now endangered because of human disturbance. We pollute or take away their water. Also, people steal their eggs or eat these birds. 

Great Indian Hornbill
Buceros bicornis

The Great (Indian) Hornbills, one of the largest hornbills, are most commonly found in southeastern Asia. Their homes range from western India, through Indochina, south of Malaya and through Sumatra. These hornbills are found on sea level up to 5000 feet (1524m) above ground.

Great Hornbills can grow to a length of 4.5 feet (1.4m). The body is covered with black feathers. The wing tips have a ban of white feathers. The tail, sometimes reaching up to 3 feet (7.6cm), is white with bans of black feathers across. The neck of this bird is surrounded with circle of fur. The bill is yellow and curved downward. One distinct mark of the hornbills is theircasque. The casque of the Great Hornbill is solid ivory. They usually have short legs, but have broad feet.

This particular species of hornbill is chiefly fruit-eaters. Great Indian Hornbills like to eat various types of berries. Hornbills swallow most of their food whole instead of breaking it down first. After they consume the food, they'll regurgitate what they cannot digest such as bones, and pits.

The males and females are mated for life. The usual clutch size is about 2-4 white round eggs. Th incubation period is about 28 to 40 days. It takes for another 4-8 week for the youngsters to mature. The mothers, during this maturation period, remain with their offspring. The males take care of the females when they are incubating, and the offspring when they are young. The males would eat the food, regurgitate it and give it to the young hornbills.

Now these wonderful and beautiful hornbills are becoming rare. They are near the verge ofextinction. The main causes of their endangerment are people hunting them for their meat and destroying their natural habitat. 

Northern Helmeted Curassow
Pauxi pauxi

Northern Helmeted Curassows live in cool humid forest of northern and eastern Columbia through the mountains of Venezuela.

They are endangered because of hunting and loss of habitat. 

Ostrich
Struthio camelus

Ostriches are found in 2 areas in Africa. One location stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia, the other location covers the ground of South Africa to Tanzania. They inhabit open areas like deserts, semi-deserts, and grassland.

These are the largest and tallest flightless birds in the world. On an average, ostriches stand up to 8 feet (2.5m) high. They have white fluffy feathers on its wings and tails. Since their inability to fly, ostriches developed strong legs. They can run as fast as 40 miles per hour (64 km/hr). When they are being preyed upon, ostriches use their sharp eyesight and fast running legs to escape for safety.

Ostriches eat leaves, stems, flowers, and plants. They use their blunt beak to pluck these foods.

A male, when attracting mates, squats down in sexual positions and waves their wings and necks. Males can mate up to 5 females. All the females combined can lay as much as 40 eggs. The dominant female kicks out about 20 of the 40 eggs and keep the other 20 to herself. Both parents look after the young.

Now ostriches are endangered. People in South Africa capture them for their wings and tails. Once populated the Arabian Peninsula, they are now extinct in that area. 

Red Crown Crane
Grus japonensis

Red Crown Cranes are found in areas like Japan, north China, and Siberia. They thrive on marshy places.

These cranes can reach up to 56 inches (140cm) tall and weigh about 30 pounds (14kg). When they spread their wings, the wings can stretch across 96 inches (240cm). Red Crown Cranes have 4 toes, 3 of those are large and a small toe that can't reach the ground. They have long legs and bill. This species of cranes has black and white forehead. One distinct mark of the Red Crown Cranes is the red crown on its head. This red patch of skin turns bright when the cranes are excited or angry.

Some distinctive habits of the Red Crown Cranes are their loud "trumpet-like" cry. This shout can be heard more than 2 miles (3.2km) away. They have a special dance. The cranes bow, turn around, arch their necks, and kick up their legs. Red Crown Cranes sleep with one leg up close to the body.

These birds feed on small fish, tadpole, frogs, snakes, and small mammals like mice and moles. Sometimes they have a taste for baby birds, snails, worms, and insects. Red Crown Cranes eat plants also, such as roots, corn, and wheat.

The average life span of the cranes is about 30 years. However, there are some that lived to their 80s. During these years the adults would mate and stay together with the female for life. Around April or early May, the female would lay about 2 eggs. One of them usually hatches in 4 weeks. Both parents share their duties in taking care of their young. The babies would remain with their parents for approximately 10 months.

Unfortunately, now there are only a small number of them left in the wild. With the growth of human population, their marshy habitat is decreasing. Many of the cranes die with the lost of habitat. Luckily, some people do care about the world around them. In 1973 a few college students founded the International Crane Foundation (ICF). They started programs to restore the cranes' habitat. Also, they tried to inform the public of this endangered species. 

Snowy Owl
Nyctea scandiaca

Snowy owls live in the Arctic Tundra. This includes places like north of North America, Greenland, north of Europe and Asia. When breeding season comes, snowy owls remain in the Arctic Tundra.

These owls have white feathers with light gray spots. The white feather protects the snowy owl from the cold and camouflages them against enemies. When they spread their wings, they could reach up to 4 -5 feet (1.2 - 1.5m) wide.

The snowy owls prey on lemmings for most of the time. However, on the some occasion, they feed on larger preys like hares, gulls, and ducks. During years when food supply is scarce, these owls migrate south to search for food.

The nests of snowy owls are shallow and hollow holes in the ground. They are usually located on the slightly raised ground on the tundra floor. The average clutch size is 8 - 15 eggs. Each egg needs 32 -33 days of incubation. They hatch in 2 - 4 intervals.