Question: Some birds have runny noses ... who, why, and how?
Answer: Seabirds and coastal shorebirds have to cope with some severe environmental health hazards because of their feeding habits. The large doses of salt from the sea water they absorb while feeding should be poisonous, leading to dehydration and kidney problems.
But it isn't.
The excess salt is disposed of by special salt-processing glands in the head, which then discharge a highly concentrated salt solution into the nostrils. From there, it drips back into the sea (a runny nose).
So not only are these birds not poisoned, but as a bonus, their heady little internal desalinization plants allow them to extract fresh water from the sea water.