Quiz No 3

[alanjns]

Send your answers to me via a PM - I will reveal the answers in about 1 week - good luck

1. What is a chalaza? (1 point)
2. What is the UK’s largest finch? (1 point)
3. What is an Icelandic ‘foul gull’ and why is it so called? (2 points)
4. What species of duck has a well known migration moult in the Waddensee, with over 100,000 birds? (1 point)
5. What is zugunruhe? (1 point)
6. At approximately 7, 250 miles, which bird makes the longest non stop migration? (1 point)
7. Can you identify this Bird of Prey in the attachment? (1 point)
8. Why do many ducks, geese and swans fly in a V formation? (1 point)
9. What is the aerial display of Starlings called? (1 point)
10. As far as I am aware, Ireland does not have a national bird as yet, but what are the National birds of England, Scotland and Wales? (1 point each)

If anyone can prove me wrong and name Irelands national bird - with proof - 10 bonus points !!!

[bassist]

A flock of starlings the name.....!for the life of me i cannot remember what you told me it was the other day when we met up......!2 many beers have gone down since then........!

[Neil Rigby]

I know this one but let's keep schtum!

[bassist]

I cheated and went on the net and got most of the answers,wont post them though........!

[alanjns]

If you want to take part in the quiz, PM me your answers !!

[Neil Rigby]

Originally Posted by bassist

I cheated and went on the net and got most of the answers,wont post them though........!

Come on! Get you encyclopaedias out and do this properly!

[astafjevs]

i've answered honestly, as i'd hope Alan will testify if necessary , but having now looked the answers up theres a couple of surprises in there! great quiz!

[alanjns]

Any more takers for the quiz?

Come on guy's & gals, it's just a bit of fun, join in and have a go.

I'm off to Amsterdam tonight, so will post the answers upon my return - Tuesday 14th

Good luck

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by alanjns

Any more takers for the quiz?

Come on guy's & gals, it's just a bit of fun, join in and have a go.

I'm off to Amsterdam tonight, so will post the answers upon my return - Tuesday 14th

Good luck

Hope you both have a great time in Amsterdam, I expect some good bird photo's when you come back, remember any Treecreeper you see will be Short-toed Treecreepers

cheers, John

[alanjns]

1. In bird/animal eggs, the chalaza is composed of one or two spiral bands of tissue that suspend the yolk in the center of the white. It does not act like an umbilical cord; the growing embryo receives its nutrients from the yolk. The purpose of the chalaza is to hold the yolk in place.

2. The Hawfinch is the UK's largest finch

3. The answer is a ''Fulmar''. In the Icelandic language, ''Fulmar'' translates as ''Foul Gull''. It is so called because of a foul smelling oil that it produces and stores in it's stomach and uses as a defence mechanism - if a predator gets too close they have the ability to 'spit' the oil in their direction. The oil can matt the feathers of predators and potentially drown them.

4. The Shelduck has a migration moult of over 100,000 birds in the Waddensee.

5. 'Migratory restlessness' is also known by the German word, 'Zugunruhe'. It is the in-built desire to build up energy and fat and to migrate.

6. The Bar-tailed Godwit makes a non-stop migratory flight of approximately 7,250 miles.

7. The bird in the attachment is a female Merlin.

8. Birds that fly in a 'V' formation, do so because of the slip stream effect. The wing beats of the birds in front create up-drafts that the bird behind can use to creat lift and make flying easier. The flock takes it in turns to be leader.

9. The aerial display of Starlings is called a murmuration. Some people suggested 'Black sun' - after an internet search, I found that this is a term localised to the Netherlands region - I checked with the good people at Fat Birder who agreed with murmuration.

10. Great Britain does not have a national bird - the Robin is the national bird of the UK - you all spotted that. Scotland has the Golden Eagle and Wales the Red Kite. No one could prove the existence of a Republic of Ireland national bird.