During the summer months, I must admit I sometimes get down and out while working because of the heat and bugs. But the wildlife keeps me smiling...especially our year-round resident black-bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis). These medium-sized ducks have long necks and long, pink legs, and imagine this...a black belly. I readily identify them in my area from their red bills. In flight, one can see a large white patch their wings. Their call is a wheezy and musical whistling, quite distinctive!
Black-bellied whistling ducks forage on grass, grain, insects, mollusks, and aquatic plants. Behaviorally, they actually resemble swans and geese in that they lack sexual dimorphism (visual difference between males and females of the same species), form pretty long pair-bonds, and have relatively simple pair-forming behavior.
In my days as a grad student in Gainesville, hunting ring necked ducks occupied some cool dark mornings. Their wings whistled when the came into the ponds and that was always around dawn. I was no good at shooting but managed to bag a few. On one particular trip the ducks almost got me. Probably poetic justice. Here's a link to the tale:
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I haven't hunted for 30 or more years now, and as a field biologist find looking for,finding and conserving wildlife far more satisfying. Thanks for your fine blog.
Thanks Woody S. I am glad you enjoy my blog and am glad you find such enjoyment in the conservation side now. :-)
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