The Wood Duck
by Kathy White
Title
The Wood Duck
Artist
Kathy White
Medium
Photograph - Photography--greeting Cards Or Notes Are Cheaper By The Dozen!
Description
"The Wood Duck" is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. They are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark and perch on branches.
This photograph was taken by me on White Rock Lake at Sunset Bay in Dallas, Texas. This is a very tranquil lake, only a few miles from downtown Dallas. This end of the lake is usually always full of pelicans, ducks, geese, swan, coots, and geese. We found it unusual to see this beautifully painted Wood Duck among all the other waterfowl. But then, this Bay is a bird watching and photographing paradise.
The Wood Duck nests in trees near water, sometimes directly over water, but other times over a mile away. After hatching, the ducklings jump down from the nest tree and make their way to water. The mother calls them to her, but does not help them in any way. The ducklings may jump from heights of over 50 feet without injury.
Wood Ducks pair up in January, and most birds arriving at the breeding grounds in the spring are already paired. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year.
Wood Ducks eat seeds, fruits, insects and other arthropods. When aquatic foods are unavailable they may take to dry land to eat acorns and other nuts from forests and grain from fields.
Wood Ducks feed by dabbling or short, shallow dives. They are strong fliers and can reach speeds of 30 mph. Wood Ducks are not territorial, with the exception that a male may fight off other males that approach his mate too closely. Egg-dumping, is common in Wood Ducks—females visit other Wood Duck cavities, lay eggs in them, and leave them to be raised by the other female. Individual females typically lay 10-11 eggs per clutch, but some very full nests have been found containing 29 eggs, the result of egg-dumping.
Wood Duck populations increased between 1966 and 2010, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. This is good news considering their dramatic declines in the late 19th century. Wood Ducks can be found throughout the year in the U.S., with some individuals breeding in Canada, and some wintering in Mexico.
Uploaded
August 15th, 2014
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Viewed 777 Times - Last Visitor from Boulder, CO on 03/23/2024 at 11:06 PM
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Comments (10)
Kathy White
Thank you Ann Keisling for the feature in the group Photography for Fun! Seeing the beautiful, vibrant colors on this duck was FUN! ;)
Kathy White
Thank you SO much to Digital Designs for choosing our Wood Duck photo for feature in FAA Portraits- Birds group!
Kathy White
Thank you to Nadine and Bob Johnston for the feature of The Wood Duck in the group All Seasons Landscapes!! Appreciate you two so much!