Fresh Water Habitats      Saltwater/ Marine Habitats     Wetlands    Waders

"Water water everywhere and all the boards did shrink, Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink"

Saltwater/ Marine Habitats/ Oceanic Coastal
Covering 70 percent of the earth's surface, oceans represent the largest of our biomes. These vast saltwater bodies surround our continents, stretch thousands of miles, and contain or touch upon many additional sub-biomes or habitat types. We know best the areas closest to the majority of mankind, these are the coast of our continents. Coastal habitats include beaches, bays, harbors, and estuaries. Estuaries are typically a marshy area where fresh water meets the sea. Where fresh water as in a river mixes with the saltwater we get a mix of slightly salty river water and less salty ocean water. This mix of fresh and salt waters is known as brackish water.

Pelagic Birds species spend almost all of their lives at sea, traversing, and living on the ocean open, sleeping on the ocean surface, and plying the sky and fishing the seas by day. Pelagic birds typically spend only a few months a year on land, for the sole purpose of nesting. Perhaps best known of the pelagic birds are the albatrosses. The Royal Albatross at top, approaches on a tremendous wingspan off the coast of New Zealand.

Common Noddy photographed off of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, where this species and other pelagic birds will nest on remote coral islands or cays. Islands have long been a nesting site without mammalian predators. Introduction of predators on to such nesting islands often results in catastrophe for the nestlings and eggs.

Crested Tern

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Fresh Water (lakes and rivers)
Fresh water is a commodity that is increasing in value, as human needs increase with growing population. Without water, and for land animals, without fresh water, there would be no life as we know it. All birds and all vertebrates need water. Pelagic birds (sea birds) have evolved to survive with just saltwater. There are vertebrates, in dry arid climates that have adapted to a lack of available drinking water by obtaining at least some of their water needs through the foods in their diets. The Ring-necked Ducks above were photographed in winter along a small pond in Durham North Carolina. Many waterfowl species which inhabit fresh water environments throughout most of the year, are forced to the coast and unfrozen saltwater bodies during the winter.

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Tropical Freshwater Species

Northern Jacana on a raft of water hyacinth along the Rio Sirena Corcovado N. P. Costa Rica. Jacanas are sometimes referred to as "lilly trotters" due to their ability to walk along the water lilies and other floating vegetation. Amongst the most raucous and boisterous of animals you'll find or see in a habitat. Their territorial squabbles and loud calls echo down the rivers, and across ponds and lake with enough floating vegetation to be suitable for them.

The Sungrebe is an inhabitant of neotropical rivers (Central and South America). The individual above was photographed and sound recorded along the Rio Sirena in Costa Rica, not far from the N. Jacana pictured above it. The equivalent species in Africa is known as the "Finfoot". The sungrebe at left, normally affords little in the way of views. It's infrequently given call along the river is a great give away to its presence amongst the shadowed banks along lowland rainforest streams.