Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink. Ever wondered how marine birds, like this albatross, are able to drink seawater? They’re equipped with specialized “salt glands” above their eyes that process excess salt. The glands produce a salty solution that is excreted through the birds’ nostrils and down grooves of their beaks, where it drips off.

Cool Links:

Marine Discovery Activity: Marine Birds - This lesson plan for elementary/middle-school teaches students about the special adaptations of marine birds, and encourages them to think about how human activities can impact the ecological relationships in marine communities.

Forget film; real dragons eat seaweed, snort salt - Marine birds aren't the only animals to have evolved salt glands.

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