Notice in the past, amid various canoes, aquatic bird (6,5)
I believe the answer is:
canada goose
'aquatic bird' is the definition.
(Canada goose is an example)
'notice in the past amid various canoes' is the wordplay.
'notice' becomes 'ad' (short for advert).
'in the past' becomes 'ago' (synonyms).
'amid' indicates putting letters inside.
'various' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ad'+'ago'='adago'
'canoes' anagrammed gives 'canose'.
'adago' placed within 'canose' is 'CANADA GOOSE'.
(Other definitions for canada goose that I've seen before include "Flying trumpeter" , "N. American bird" .)