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deer

"Q" imageDo all deer have brown eyes?

Katelyn, 11

"A" imageDeer have brown eyes, except for albino deer, which have pink eyes. Not all white deer are albino, however. Inside security fencing at the former Seneca Army Depot in New York, deer with white pigmentation were protected under a game management program that allowed hunters to take normal-colored deer. Now the white deer at the site of what is now a conservation area number about 200. They all have brown eyes.


ducks

"Q" imageHow can ducks breathe underwater?

Daniel, 9

"A" image Ducks don’t breathe underwater. Instead, they hold their breath when they dive. Ducks don’t stay underwater for long. Normally, ducks don’t remain underwater for more than 30 seconds. Some sea ducks are able to stay underwater for as long as a minute. Observers have noted that before diving, a duck will squeeze trapped air from its feathers and exhale. Ducks normally float like corks, so they have to keep kicking their feet to remain underwater.



cardinal

"Q" imageHow do birds bite so hard when they don't have any teeth?

Brock, 11

"A" image Birds don’t have teeth, but that doesn’t mean they can’t bite. Birds have strong neck and jaw muscles, and their beaks have sharp edges. You can often tell what kind of food a bird eats by looking at its bill. Birds with short, thick beaks usually eat seeds and nuts. Birds of prey have hooked beaks that they use to tear flesh.