1) Answer: There are some 9,567 bird species are recognized worldwide. New species are occasionally discovered in remote areas of the world. About 700 species of birds occur in North America. In the fossil record, some 150,000 species of birds have been identified. Since there are less than 10,000 species living today, most of the birds that have existed on this planet are now extinct.

2) Answer: The fastest bird known is the Peregrine Falcon. These birds can dive at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour!!! Other flight speeds range from a relatively slow 27 miles per hour for the hummingbirds, 32 miles per hour for the American Robin, 60 miles per hour for the Mallard and the Barn Swallow, 72 miles per hour for some ducks, and 90 miles per hour for the Common Loon.

3) Answer: Birds fly at many altitudes, depending on where they are going and the purpose for their travel. Most birds fly within a few hundred feet off the ground. Birds migrating over large distances often select higher altitudes to take advantage of favorable winds. Some birds have been observed at very high altitudes. Geese can fly over the highest mountain, Mount Everest, at an altitude above 29,000 feet. In South America, the Condor has been observed at altitudes close to 20,000 feet. A vulture collided with a jetliner over West Africa at an altitude at an altitude of 37,000 feet.

4) Answer: Birds are the most mobile creatures on Earth. Many species migrate from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere each year. Some seabirds spend long periods of time, possibly years, in the air without landing, and may travel from one side of the planet to another. The champion migrant, however, is the Arctic Tern. These birds move each year from their nesting grounds in the far northern regions of the north to the coasts of Antarctica in the southern hemisphere, a round trip of 22,000 miles.

5) Answer: Someone has actually counted the number of feathers on many species of birds. The tiny Ruby-throated Hummingbird has relatively few at 940 feathers. At the high extreme, the Swan has some 20,000 feathers.

6) Answer: Birds live a very precarious life surrounded by many natural and man-made dangers. Banding studies demonstrate that most birds die in their first year of life. If a bird survives its first year, it has a chance of living for several years. Some records for different species include 23.25 years for the Great Blue Heron, 23.5 years for the Canada Goose, 18.33 years for the Blue Jay, 15.75 years for the Red-winged Blackbird, and 15.75 years for the Northern Cardinal.

7) Answer: Birds have been around much longer than the things man has created that cause their death. Many birds are lost each year to collisions with buildings, windows, radio and TV towers, lighthouses and other objects. Manšs introduction of animals and insects to different parts of the world has had a devastating impact on bird populations. Pet cats and feral cats, for example, kill an estimated 2 billion birds in North America each year. Development of land removes habitat areas such as wetlands, forests, fields, beaches and other areas that birds depend on for food and shelter, especially on long migrations. Many species of bird are now extinct due to these factors. Many more species are threatened with extinction. Each of us must do our part to preserve important habitats if we and future generations are to enjoy these interesting creatures.

8) Answer: The largest living bird is the Ostrich. With a weight of up to 345 pounds and standing up to 9 feet tall, this flightless bird is probably the fastest running bird. Ostriches have been clocked running at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. The smallest bird is the Bee Hummingbird found in Cuba. It is only 2.5 inches long and has a wingspan of 4 inches. It weighs less than 1/10 of an ounce.

9) Answer: Around the world, a number of species are threatened with extinction. Here in the USA, some of the birds now facing extinction include the Kirtlandšs Warbler that breeds in Michigan and winters in the Bahama Islands, the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow of Southwest Florida, Bachmanšs Warbler once found in the swamps of the southeastern USA, the Whooping Crane, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and the California Condor. A good activity would be to look for web pages on the Internet that describe ongoing efforts to save these and many other species.

10) Answer: Locate and become active in a local Audubon group or other environmental group. Study the problems that birds have in your area and work with people who can make a difference. Education is a key activity. Learn as much as you can and develop ways to share what you learn with others.