Waterbirds

Waterbirds are a broad, ecologically defined group of birds that rely on aquatic environments for feeding, nesting, or both. They occur in freshwater and coastal habitats such as lakes, rivers, marshes, estuaries, and shorelines. Because waterbird is an ecological category rather than a formal taxonomic group, it includes many families and species with diverse habits, including Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans), Ardeidae (herons and bitterns), Threskiornithidae (ibises and spoonbills), Pelecanidae (pelicans), Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants), Podicipedidae (grebes), Recurvirostridae (stilts and avocets), Scolopacidae (sandpipers and allies), Haematopodidae (oystercatchers), and Laridae (gulls and terns).

Waterbirds feed on fish, crustaceans, insects and other aquatic prey, employing a variety of foraging strategies such as dabbling, diving, probing mud, or catching prey underwater. They possess adaptations like webbed or lobed feet, long bills for probing, and diverse nesting habits, from ground and nest platforms to trees and clumps of vegetation.

Many waterbirds are migratory, moving seasonally to exploit favorable resources. Breeding colonies range from scattered pairs to dense sites, with nests built of vegetation, mud, or other materials near or on water.

Conservation concerns for waterbirds center on wetland loss and degradation, pollution, overexploitation of aquatic resources, and disturbance of nesting sites. Protecting wetlands benefits waterbird populations and the ecological services they provide, including predator control and nutrient cycling.