The ducks on the lake go round and round

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 3:25 pm

On today's walk we came upon these feeding ducks. I can not say I have ever seen the etiquette of eating as you circle from ducks but that seemed to be how it is done for this batch.

https://youtu.be/_yKqPBhre9w

Ed

algale · Post by **algale** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 3:36 pm

Reminds me of that children's toy -- a paddle with a circle of wooden birds on it. A central weight tied to each bird head; as the weight is swung around in a circle, each bird pecks in turn.

rjent · Post by **rjent** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 3:51 pm

I believe that is called a Duck Vortex ... not to be confused with the flu flu bird ...

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 4:03 pm

In case you need to unwind after watching the first video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6YZLi1swos

Ed

S Brian · Post by **S Brian** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 7:12 pm

Just so you all know what you are looking at, the ducks are Northern Shovelers, drakes and hens.

reible · Post by **reible** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 7:19 pm

S Brian wrote:Just so you all know what you are looking at, the ducks are Northern Shovelers, drakes and hens.

Yes, I guess I should have said that. We don't see them here much so I had to look them up to make sure I wasn't mistaking them for something else.

Now I wish I had done a couple of regular photo and not just movies. Oh well.

It was a pleasure to watch them and with the long zoom lens it was even more fun.

Ed

rcoder · Post by **rcoder** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 4:16 pm

Shovelers have serrations on the side of their bills that as they nibble at the water and close up their bills the water goes out between the serrations and the "good stuff" goes down into the crop. They also are churning the water with their feet which bring more stuff up from lower for feeding. Interesting group behavior and cooperation. Here in the southwest we use evaporating ponds as part of our waste water treatment. Shovelers love that stuff. I used to hunt ducks our here but after watching "nevermore".

S Brian · Post by **S Brian** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 7:15 pm

rcoder - Waste water treatment ponds are magnets for ducks, grebes, phalaropes, gulls, shorebirds, wading birds and even song birds, no matter where you live. We birdwatchers visit these ponds often, to see what may be feeding at the ponds.

rcoder · Post by **rcoder** » Tue Dec 08, 2015 3:56 pm

I do a lot of birding here in Willcox and visit our pond as well as Sunsites, Benson, Bowie etc. Our Sandhill Cranes are in the valley and are fun to watch. As a retired Biology teacher I also have been know to guide birding tours into our Chiricahua and Dragoon Mts. If you need to add to your list come and see us.

Bob

reible · Post by **reible** » Tue Dec 08, 2015 4:13 pm

rcoder wrote:I do a lot of birding here in Willcox and visit our pond as well as Sunsites, Benson, Bowie etc. Our Sandhill Cranes are in the valley and are fun to watch. As a retired Biology teacher I also have been know to guide birding tours into our Chiricahua and Dragoon Mts. If you need to add to your list come and see us.

Bob

You don't have a location in your header so would that be AZ?

Ed

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The ducks on the lake go round and round

The ducks on the lake go round and round

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Re: The ducks on the lake go round and round

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