Hobbies And Interests
Birds
Birds are warm-blooded vertebrate animals. They have wings for forearms, bodies covered in feathers, and they are categorized in the scientific class Aves. Of the 9,000 bird species, more than 400 species thrive within the state of Maryland. A few of the numerous varieties of Maryland birds include the black bellied whistling-duck, peregrine falcon, spotted sandpiper, mute swan and Baltimore oriole.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck or Dendrocygna autumnalis, grows up to 20 inches and feeds on grass, aquatic plants, grain, mollusks and insects. Also called tree ducks, black bellied whistling-ducks inhabit marshes and use tree cavities to nest. These ducks lay 9-18 eggs (or clutches), and ornithologists classify them in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae.
Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) migrates approximately 15,500 miles each year, making Maryland one of its homes. Peregrine falcons have some of the lengthiest migrations of any bird in North America, earning its namesake "peregrine" -- which means pilgrim or wanderer. These falcons grow up to 19.3 inches and can flight up to 69 mph.
Made nearly extinct in North America due to DDT pesticide poisoning, peregrine falcons now have abundant populations, and are one of the most widely distributed species worldwide. They live in the mountains, use cliffs for nest sites, and have a clutch size of 2-5 eggs. Peregrine falcons are predatory carnivores (meat eaters) that dine on diverse specimens. They primarily eat other birds such as pigeons, songbirds, ducks and gulls, but will also eat bats, rodents and fish. Peregrine falcons are in the order Falconiformes, family Falconidae.
Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia) is the most widely distributed breeding sandpiper of North America. Their territories always include pond, stream or lake shorelines, and they breed in diverse habitats such as grasslands, parks and forests. Spotted sandpipers nest on the ground close to water, and produce a clutch size of 3 to 5 eggs. They grow up to 8 inches and consume various types of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, such as worms and insects. Spotted sandpipers arein the order Charadriiformes, family Scolopacidae.
Mute Swan
Mute swans (Cygnus olor) are indigenous to Eurasia, but were introduced into North America in the 1800s. They mate for life and nest on the ground, usually on top of a mound located on a reed bed, island or bank. Mute swans grow up to 60 inches and have clutch sizes of 1 to 11 eggs. Feeding on aquatic plants and small aquatic animals, mute swans prefer to inhabit bogs, shallow coastal ponds, streams and estuaries. They are in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae.
Baltimore Oriole
Baltimore orioles (Icterus galbula) are distinguished by their black and vibrant orange plumage. They generally inhabit open woodlands, including wooded parks and urban areas. Growing up to 7.5 inches, Baltimore orioles consume fruit, spiders, caterpillars, insects and nectar. They nest in trees on tree forks or thin branches, and bear clutch sizes of 3 to 7 eggs. Baltimore orioles are in the order Passeriformes, family Icteridae.