Ep. 580 – Can Ducks Drink Salt Water?

Freshwater is a basic requirement of all birds, but it can be in short supply during extreme drought and in marine environments. In these situations, how do birds cope, can they drink salt water, and how might it affect their health? Dr. Sarah Gutowsky, quantitative wildlife biologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, joins Dr. Mike Brasher to discuss the adaptations that birds use for helping overcome the challenges and stresses of saltwater. From salt glands that remove salt from the blood to extraction of freshwater from food and behavioral changes to access dietary fresh water, we learn that birds are quite skilled at dealing with salty systems.

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