On The Wild Side: How Do Birds Eat Without Having Any Teeth?

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Field Guides  |   ZipGuides  |   Parks & Refuges  |   Ask an Expert  |   Birding  |   Gardening  |   Free Stuff May, 2011 Vol. 11, No. 13 Make Your Yard A Wildlife Oasis Bring your yard or garden to life this year by planting the shrubs, flowers and trees that wildlife find irresistible. Take our Garden Wildlife Quiz to learn what plants attract the most birds, butterflies and other critters. Follow eNature on Twitter Join the flock who’s following eNature on Twitter and get the latest fun facts and interesting stories about wildlife. You’ll learn something every day from our “creature of the day” tweet. And we’ll send you other fun and interesting stories to enjoy. It’s easy. Click here to get started! Chesapeake Bay Field Guide App Avaliable Our free field guide app covers the animals and plants of the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed. Created for the Chesapeake Bay Trust, this free app is an amazing resource for anyone who lives in the Bay’s 6 state watershed. Explore Our National Parks With eNature’s ParkGuides Our ParkGuides have detailed visitor information and wildlife data for over 300 National Parks, Wildlife Refuges and National Monuments throughout the U.S.   And even if you can’t get there yourself—you can always visit the Park of the Day while you’re visiting eNature.com. How Do Birds Eat Without Using Teeth? Most of us know that birds lack teeth.  So how do they digest the hard grains and seeds many eat? Their secret is an oddly named organ called the gizzard. Click here to learn what a gizzard is and how it functions…. The Western Scrub Jay includes seeds and nuts as well as small animals and insects in its diverse diet. White-tail deer typically have 1-3 young about six months after the fall rutting season. The young are usually sent on their own about a year after birth-- just before the mother gives birth to her next round of young. Heaven Scent A newborn fawn spends a lot of time alone, even if it’s a twin or triplet. Yet it’s remarkably safe for such a feeble creature. That’s because a fawn is all but invisible to predators—who neither see nor smell it. Click here to follow your nose and learn more….. Sponsored Advertisement Heard, But Almost Never Seen Most folks have heard of the Whip-poor-will, but very few have seen one because it blends so well into its woodland habitat.  Many creatures use camouflage to hide— some even use it to hunt. Read on to find out what other animals you might have heard, but not seen. The Whip-poor will and other nightjars are rarely seen because their plumage blends so well into their habitat. The Star-nosed Mole lives in the eastern US and Canada in damp areas such as swamps and wet woods. And occasionally someone's yard or garden A Face Only A Mother Could Love The Star-nosed Mole is an interesting little creature.  For instance, it’s the only mole that can swim. But what really sets it apart is its remarkable nose. Click here to learn more about this amazing appendage…. Why Cowbirds Lay Eggs In Other Birds’ Nests Many folks know that cowbirds lay their eggs in the nest of other birds. But few folks know why. Turns out there’s good evolutionary reason for cowbirds to abandon their young to others. Read on to get the whole story….. The Brown-headed Cowbird is common throughout much of the US. The Park Guides app is comprehensive — all native birds and animals are included, along with photos, in-depth descriptions, audio, field marks and more. National Parks Field Guide App Now Available Created for the National Parks Conservation Association, our National Park Field Guides will help you get the most out of your visit.  You can find out what species of bird you just saw on the beach in Cape Cod, learn what grizzly bears eat for dinner in Denali, know when porcupine mating season begins in the Shenandoah or who to call to reserve a camp ground in Yosemite. It’s free and available in the Apple Appstore.  Click here for a link or search “Park Guides”.     Copyright 2010 eNature/SMG LLC. All rights reserved. 1811 36th St NW | Washington, DC 20007

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