Life on the Floodplains by Ken _Gilliland

Vue • Animals • posted on Feb 02, 2010

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Description

Normadic jacanas and spoonbills follow the water in Africa. (full view suggested) The African Jacana (in flight and center) is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, it is nomadic in relation to changing water levels with some individuals travelling as far as several kilometers between suitable habitats. The Lesser Jacana (left center) shows a preference for shallow water around the edges of permanent and seasonally flooded wetlands, with areas of sparse, aquatic grasses and stands of floating vegetation such as water-lilies. In both species of Jacana, females can be twice as large as males. While males are monogamous, females are polygamous having up to four nests going during the breeding season and leaving their respective mates to raise the young. The African Spoonbills (rear and far left)also follow the water and breeds during the dry season from West Africa to eastern Sudan, in the rains (or sometimes in the dry season) in East and central Africa, and in winter or early spring in southern Africa. All three species populations are threatened by the draining of floodplains for human uses. Rendered in Vue 8i with no postwork. Models: Lily pads (Lisa's Botanicals) and Songbird ReMix Shorebirds v1 and Jacanas (me)