By Contributor to the Tega Cay Sun: Kip Loretta
Tega Cay and the larger Charlotte metropolitan area offers a vast array of opportunities to both see and interact with wildlife.
I’m an animal lover myself. I’m especially partial to one very misunderstood and often overlooked feathered friend commonly referred to as the pigeon. More on our pigeon friends in future articles.
For now, I’d like to provide you with an interesting animal fact for this month while highlighting some local events taking place in the region.
April’s Amazing Animal Attributes
New studies indicate that there are an estimated 18,000 species of birds on the planet. With this much diversity, there are bound to be surprises in the avian kingdom. One such surprise are the differences in diets for growing chicks.
From grains to insects, to fish and even other birds, the requirements and supplements from parents to their chicks are impressive. What’s even more amazing is that out of these 18,000 species, four species feed their young with milk.
Pigeons and doves feed their young with crop milk. Flamingos feed their young with milk from glands in the upper digestive tract. Lastly, male emperor penguins feed their young with milk from the esophagus.
Now go forth and amaze your friends with this new fountain of knowledge.
April’s Animal Events
Carolina Raptor Center (carolinaraptorcenter.org): STEAM on the Wing & on the Water April 13, Breakfast with the Birds April 27
Charlotte Whitewater Center (whitewater.org): Zipline & Dine April 24 (6-8:30PM)
Charlotte Wildlife Stewards (charlottewildlife.org): Charlotte Earth Day Celebration April
20 (Charlotte Museum of History)
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (dsbg.org): Pickin’ on the Porch Music Series (Every
Saturday in April 2-4PM)
