Big bird, small bird, short bird, tall bird

If you visit the Ballona Wetlands in Playa del Rey, you will see many different types of birds. Some birds are very tall, and some are very small. The great blue heron is a big bird, standing five feet tall. If you were to see one, you might notice it has very long features: long legs, a long beak, and a long neck. This bird uses its long stilt-like legs to wade in the shallow water of the wetlands as it looks for food. It stands as still as a statue waiting for a fish to swim by. When it sees one, the heron quickly snatches the fish with its pointed beak, then flips it up into the air and gulps it down, head first.

If you are very quiet and listen closely while at the wetlands, you might hear a high pitched chirp and the buzzing sound of wings flapping very quickly. This is the Anna’s hummingbird, the smallest bird found at the Ballona Wetlands. It is only three to four inches long. This hummingbird is quite beautiful, with shiny feathers and a long pointed beak, which it uses to sip nectar from flowers, like a straw.

Your classroom can schedule a tour of the Ballona Wetlands by contacting Marie Taylor with the Wonders of Wetlands (WOW) Team to plan a class presentation and field trip at (310) 306-0031.

This Learning Link was provided by Kellyn Allavie of the WOW Team, 7740 W. Manchester Ave. Suite 210, Playa del Rey, CA 90293.