Experience Wildlife

Common Loon

Fun Facts about the Loon

• They are carnivores that mostly eat fish, but also eat crayfish, shrimp, frogs, large aquatic insects and other small critters
• Loons can live for 30 years or more
• They are monogamous and mate for life
• Can stay underwater for 5 minutes
• Can dive more than 61 meters (200 feet) under water in search of prey

Great Blue Heron

Fun Facts about the Great Blue Heron

• By about eight weeks old, the young birds start to fly. At 10 weeks, they leave the nest – and their parents – for good
• Though they are best known as fishers, mice constitute a large part of their diet, and they also eat insects and other small creatures
• Herons can live 20 years or more
• Scientists have seen herons tossing seeds or fruit in the water to attract fish

American White Pelican

Fun Facts about the American White Pelican

• Pelican has the largest bill of all birds. It can reach 18 inches in length. Underneath the bill, pelicans have throat pouch that can hold 3 gallons of water
• Are snowy white with black flight feathers visible only when the wings are spread
• They like to come together in groups of a dozen or more birds to feed, as they can thus cooperate and corral fish to one another
• Pelican can survive between 10 and 30 years