Big Feet and Buoyancy | Okavango: River of Dreams

The Okavango River in Southern Africa is home to a very unusual bird, the African Jacana. African Jacanas appear to walk on water by treading lightly across floating lilies on their oversized feet. This video from the Nature miniseries Okavango: River of Dreams shows how African Jacanas’ unique feet help them search for food and hide from predators. Support materials allow children to explore how weight distribution and surface area affect buoyancy and how these birds’ special adaptations help them survive.

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