The Prodigal Duckling

This might be as close as I get to a classic photo of a female Wood Duck and her new ducklings. However, it is not what we usually see when watching for Wood Ducks and monitoring their nest sites. 

By the way, there are many interesting tidbits about Wood Ducks in these earlier posts:

Ducks in Trees

The Housing Crisis

Sitting Ducks

It Takes A Village

A Beauty Bias

Note: The second up-close photo of a female Wood Duck's eye in the Beauty Bias post was taken near the same area where these ducklings and their mother were photographed. Their eye markings sure look remarkably similar. I wonder if they might be the same bird?

Monitoring Wood Duck boxes in the spring is a dual purpose endeavor. We look for any sign that the females ducks are utilizing the nest boxes and we also watch to make sure non-native creatures, like European Starlings, have not usurped the nest sites. Earlier this week, I was watching Box #9 along the shore of Nest Egg Island in Duck Bay. 

Wood Ducks are shy and often feed in the shadows along the shore. Females, with their subtle shades of coloring, can be especially challenging to spot. Initially, I did not see the ducklings or their mother. However, I did notice a dark reflection moving swiftly to the north. I glanced up just in time to watch a crow abandon flight. The crow fell in a fluttering corkscrew toward the ducklings. 

No doubt the crow had young to feed and the little ducklings looked like easy targets. The female Wood Duck immediately propelled herself into harm's way. The crow had second thoughts and settled behind the clump of grass on the right. The sudden attempt to hide fooled no one. 

The four tiny yellow reflections on the left are ducklings. Their mother is slightly to their right, almost invisible against the shore. No doubt she is watching the crow with one eye and her ducklings with the other. 

When the crow came over the grass and made a second attempt, the young ducklings race toward their mother, while she lowers her head and counterattacks.

The crow takes to the air, while the mother duck prepares her next defensive maneuver.

To my surprise, more ducklings appear. The duckling reinforcements on the far left side of the photo, are swimming towards their mother and siblings.

As the two halves of her family reunite, I suspect the mother felt a bit of relief.

However, in an instant the crow was back, strutting along the shore and eyeing the growing number of opportunities. The mother duck charged again.

The crow retired to the far side of the grass clump to reconsider its options.

The female lead her young through the lily pads and away from the crow. One little duckling began to fall behind.

As the mother moves out onto the open water only eight of her nine ducklings are close by. The average size of a Wood Duck brood can vary quite a bit. Birdweb suggests an average clutch of 9 to 14 eggs, while All About Birds says, six to sixteen eggs. Last week, we saw a mother who had only 5 ducklings, all of which were similar in size to these young birds.

If you happen to spot Wood Duck ducklings around Union Bay I would love to know the location and the number of ducklings seen. (ldhubbell@comcast.net) From what I have read, the females often lead their young to a new location soon after hatching. So young ducklings seen close to a particular Wood Duck box are especially important sightings.

When the mother slows down the young ducklings bunch up close behind her. They must have realized the danger and felt the need to be close. Somehow, the mother must be aware that one duckling is lagging behind. I wonder if Wood Ducks can count? 

Her patience pays off. Perhaps, this carefree little bird stopped for an extra morsel of food. For Wood Duck ducklings or humans, sometimes it is the small seemly inconsequential choices we make which ultimately decide our fate.

This time the little duckling lucks out and makes it back to Mom. Although, if the mother duck gives her young names she would probably be wise to think of this one as, 'Short-timer.' In contrast, I am amazed how the other eight ducklings were able to crowd so closely that only three are partially visible in this photo.

When the mother moves to welcome the prodigal duckling, the tightly-packed flotilla of apprehensive siblings is revealed.

With all nine once again under her protection, the mother waves her wings above their heads.

This looks almost exactly like the behavior of a female duck immediately after mating. I wonder if we will ever prove, or disprove, whether this wing-flapping behavior is an expression of pride or simply a means to straighten her flight feathers and prepare her wings for future use.

The mother turns her back on the crow and the distant shore, and proceeds on toward the shelter of Foster Island. 

It is interesting to note that the eyestripe on Wood Duck ducklings essentially stops at the eye. 

This is in direct contrast to these far more common Mallard ducklings. Later, when we start seeing Gadwall ducklings, you may notice that their eye stripes are similar to Mallards. I guess this just proves that Wood Duck ducklings are special.

In a moment, the ducklings are nearly perfectly aligned in single file. I wonder why this arrangement is safer for traveling ducklings compared to just crowding up as close as possible to their mother. By the way did you count the ducklings? Once again there appears to be only eight. Where is Short-timer?

Have a great day on Union Bay...where young ducklings hatch in the city!

Larry

Going Native:

Without a well-funded Environmental Protection Agency, it falls to each of us to be ever more vigilant in protecting our local environments. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. My hope is that we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.
2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)
3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.
4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.

What species of plant is this? Is it native to Union Bay?

Scroll down for the answer.

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Empress Tree: 

While this tree with purple blossoms is not native to the PNW it is a wonderful sight to see. It can be found north of the Don Graham Visitor's Center in the Arboretum, just south of Duck Bay. I also found this interesting link to a UWBG post about the tree. I particularly like the idea of planting a tree when a child is born with the intent of using the wood when they both mature. To me it symbolizes the type of forethought and change which we need to encourage in our society.

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The Email Challenge:

Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign-up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue. 

My functional work around is to setup my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Thank you for your patience!

My email address is LDHubbell@comcast.net

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Ruffled Feathers

In this photo the perfect beauty of a male Red-winged Blackbird is emphasized by his exceptionally calm state.

Seeing beauty in nature is simple, as long as we leave our native neighbors a place to exist and take the time to observe them. Reading nature's more subtle signs is an unending lifelong endeavor which no one will ever complete. None the less, I hope you agree that making the effort is highly rewarding. 

In a moment's time, the blackbird switched to vocally and visually informing the world that the marsh belonged to him. Perhaps he noticed another male getting a bit too close. Even though his feathers are all perfectly aligned the phrase 'getting his feathers ruffled' feels like a fair description of his irritated state.

Here is Marsha, our new neighbor, in her Montlake nest. At a hundred feet in the air, it is the wind which literally ruffles her feathers, while she focuses on the crows who are the actual source of her irritation.

Below the nest, the ruffled wings of a Mallard indicate that Marsha, and her mate Monty, have been alternating their pescatarian diet with duck. I suspect they are also feeding young in the nest, but so far I have no proof.

Closer to Marsh Island, a mother Mallard watched out for her two little ducklings. I only recently realized how the water flooding among the willow thickets provides habitat where the ducklings can feed, some protection from off-leash animals and visual shelter from airborne predators. The duckling's tiny feathers are not really ruffled but they are certainly in a fluffy, heat-retaining state.

Yesterday, I returned to the same Montlake shore where I saw the young ducklings the day before. This time, I accidentally startled a Spotted Sandpiper. Without a feather out of place, the sandpiper still looked irritated enough to make me feel guilty for interrupting its muddy meal.

The duckling feathers reminded me of this winter photo of a Northern Flicker fluffing up to stay warm.

Compared to this sleek bird sitting in the sun, it is almost hard to believe that the two flickers belong to the same species.

Not long ago I watched a flicker feeding in the grass in the Arboretum. The ruffled feathers on the back of its head contained at least two pieces of information. Unlike the red on its cheeks, the red on the head implies that this red-shafted Northern Flicker has inherited some genetic material from an eastern yellow-shafted relative.

The out of place feathers also imply that the flicker has been recently rubbing its head on something, probably the upper half of a hole in a tree. This time of year the two most likely reasons for this behavior are, it has been building a new nest or it has been reaching into an existing nest to feed its young.

Yesterday, not far from the Spotted Sandpiper I noticed another Northern Flicker. As it looked towards Marsh Island, its feathers appeared somewhat ruffled.

A moment later, when it returned to preening I understood the reason for the out-of-place feathers. The manner in which it twisted its head reminded me of the scroll on the handle of a violin. When I looked away the flicker flew. For a few moments, I searched my surroundings, but I could not spot it.

Suddenly, I was surprised to notice the flicker staring at me from inside a nearly perfect nest hole.

Moments later, the male bird grew very excited and vocal at the approach of its mate.

They retired to an overhead branch in an attempt to perpetuate the species.

In the process, they ruffled a few feathers due to their abnormal and lengthy entanglement, which lasted a full six seconds.

This mating in Madison Park, lasted just one second.

Afterwards, neither of the Madison Park birds appeared to have a single feather out of place.

This was not the case with the Montlake female. She appeared decidedly ruffled when she relocated to a nearby branch.

As a matter of fact, I do not ever remember seeing a Northern Flicker with such a ruffled white rump. In this brief post we have seen that ruffled feathers can indicated a variety of things, including baby making, feeding of young, cleaning, heat retention, territorial defense and even the end of life. The observation of nature is a never ending delight, with an infinite variety of possibilities and learning opportunities. 

If we want similar urban opportunities for our children, we need to maintain habitat for wildlife, e.g. nature trees, wetlands, clean water, native plants and undisturbed nesting sites. Personally, I do not see human society as an alternative to nature, I believe that ultimately we will find our place as an interwoven part of a flourishing whole. 

Besides, if we are not surrounded by nature, where will we go to soothe our ruffled feathers?

Have a great day in Union Bay...where nature lives in the city!

Larry

Going Native:

Without a well-funded Environmental Protection Agency, it falls to each of us to be ever more vigilant in protecting our local environments. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. My hope is that we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.
2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)
3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.
4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.

What species of plant is this? Is it native to Union Bay?

Scroll down for the answer.

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Forget-Me-Not: This plant was found on Marsh Island. However, I believe it is a European plant, which most likely escaped from someones garden.

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The Email Challenge:

Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign-up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue. 

My functional work around is to setup my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Thank you for your patience!

My email address is LDHubbell@comcast.net

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Fits The Bill

Last year my friends Anne and Rick Matsen invited me to come and take photos of blossom-twirling birds, which return to their backyard on an annual basis. A few weeks ago the timing finally came together. The hungry House Finch, the Cherry Blossoms and the evening sunlight all appeared at the same time.

The experience was a first for me. I had never seen anything like it. The finches plucked the blossoms off the tree and manipulated them with their beaks. 

I would not have been surprised to find the birds eating cherries off the tree later in the year, but consuming the green partially-developed buds, while hiding behind the blossoms seemed odd. 

Apparently, when the blossoms burst into full bloom, the buds reach a particularly tasty state. I am thinking there may be sugar in the buds, created in the process of producing nectar to attract pollinators.

I doubt that the finches are actually helping with the pollination, however professional cherry growers usually 'thin' their cherries to increase the size of the surviving fruit. Possibly, the House Finch intervention actually increases the volume of fruit which the tree produces. 

As the finch work to secure their feast, the petals flutter slowly to the ground. I suspect Anne and Rick simply enjoy the spectacle without regard for the production of fruit.

The process reminds me of snowfall, without the need for long underwear.

The beauty of nature in action seems like a fitting Mother's Day gift. This post is dedicated to both my mother and my wife. Without their consistent love and care neither I, nor my children would be here today.

While reviewing these photos, I was impressed by the thick heavy bills of the House Finch. Clearly, their bills enable them to crush seeds, pods and buds in order to extract sustenance. This inspired me to consider the variety of ways in which relatively small birds' bills and tongues are uniquely adapted to help them find food.

Golden-crowned Kinglets have tiny, elegant little bills. Their bills are so light-weight that they help enable the kinglets to swiftly grab insects in flight.

Hummingbirds have long, thin, bills and tongues which enable them to reach deeply inside a blossom to secure the nectar. 

Downy Woodpeckers have short, sharp beaks with a stout base for drilling holes in woody plants and decomposing trees. 

They also have relatively long, barbed tongues, with which they reach in and pull out juicy little lifeforms like larva.

Cedar Waxwings have fairly small bills, but very wide mouths. No doubt this arrangement helps with swallowing fruit whole. In addition, their tongues have a rear-facing projection which resembles a fish hook. Actually, it may be that fish hooks resemble their tongues. Once their food passes beyond the hook, the hook can then sink into the soft fruit and pull it down into their throat.

Varied Thrush have a similar tongue, although the rear-facing hook may be slightly less defined.

Pied-billed Grebes have surprisingly thicks bills, which help them crush and hold small slippery fish. Birds of North America says, their bills also enable them to consume crayfish, despite the hard exoskeleton. See the reference below. 

The reference refers to research done by my friend and mentor, Martin J. Muller. Martin has also been working on a wonderful new website called, UrbanRaptorConservancy.Org.

Red Crossbills have one of the most sophisticated and interesting adaptions of all. Their bills enable them to reach between the scales of a pine cone and pry it open. This allows access for their tongues to reach the sharply-defended pine nuts, which are quite safe from most other avian species.

White-crowned Sparrows have bills which look like miniature versions of the House Finch bill. This enables them to eat mostly small seeds, but they occasionally supplement their diet with insects and such.

The relatively short sharp bill of the red-breasted nuthatch is like the Swiss Army Knife of bird bills. 

Not only do they gather and cache seeds, they also catch insects and other lifeforms as well. This photo, taken earlier in the week, fits nicely in a Mother's Day weekend post. It shows a mother returning to the nest with a nice white spider for her young.

By the way, you might want to compare the eye stripes and caps of the nuthatches in these last two photos. The crisply black head markings indicate a male, while the lighter gray-black coloring indicates the nuthatch is female. 

Brown Creepers use their slightly decurved bills to reach in and around crevices in the bark. Given that they are almost always seen searching for small living creatures on tree trunks and branches, I suspect they would not do well as vegetarians. 

A Merlin has the the flesh-rending bill of a predator. While this is a beautiful an elegant little bird, it is clearly a carnivore.

It is amazing how nature has produced so many variations in bird bills. The thousands of possibilities worldwide go far beyond these few local examples. However, in all cases, the variations in bills fit the variation in food sources. 

Regardless of the species, they all have one thing in common, none of them, or us, would be here without our mothers. Happy Mother's Day to one and all!

Have a great day on Union Bay...where Mother Nature survives in the city!

Larry

Recommended Citation

Muller, M. J. and R. W. Storer (1999). Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.410

Going Native:

Without a well-funded Environmental Protection Agency, it falls to each of us to be ever more vigilant in protecting our local environments. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. My hope is that we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.
2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)
3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.
4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.

What species of tree is this? Is it native to Union Bay?

Scroll down for the answer.

***************

Horsechestnut: This tree is native to the southeastern portion of Europe. It thrives in our Pacific northwest habitat, however I would prefer one of our native Bigleaf Maples (BLM). The BLM has a similar size and shape and is adapted to coexist with our native flora and fauna.

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The Email Challenge:

Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign-up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue. 

My functional work around is to setup my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Thank you for your patience!

My email address is LDHubbell@comcast.net

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