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November 19, 1987 - A Striking VisitorPage 8A/The Suffolk Times /November 19, 1987 Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh WOOD DUCK - -This most colorful of all waterfowl can occasionally be seen in our freshwater ponds and swamps or in the nearby woods, scavenging for acorns and beechnuts. The easiest holiday shopping for handsome gifts of function and quality Binoculars and Spotting Scopes BUSHnELL Feeders and our famous AVIARIUM '._•_ _ _III � �J Good things come in small packages U �perneG ENGRAVINGS • Handcrafted Ornaments • Stationery • Books • and more! %% Birdwatcher's Companion North Road, County Road 48, Southold • 765 -5872 Open Year -Round - Wed. -Sat. 10 a.m. -5 p.m., Sun. noon - 5 p.m. Industrial & Farm Equipment ROLLE BBROS. ROUTE 58, P.O. RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK 727 -4383 Your Authorized Sperry -New Holland Dealer A Striking Visitor By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Probably by the time you read this article the snow of last Thursday I speak of will have passed. However, I've just come in from feeding the cows their morning hay. Winter ar- rived last night and left a blanket of snow, turning the pasture greenery to white. The cows' mournful moos let me know they were anxious to be fed. Of course, the dog as usual was traveling with me and I could see he was having trouble with the snow building up between the pads of his feet. He'd semi -kneel and chew at the frozen mass to get it out. This is his only complaint when it snows. As we passed the pond surrounded by bushes, I could see something moving on the water. Freezing tem- peratures had not yet frozen the sur- face of the pond, protected from the howling winds and snow. Someone was taking advantage of this oasis. Quietly I stalked around a big clump of multiflora rose and to my surprise I saw a gorgeous male wood duck. There were others there, I knew, but I couldn't see them. My, how stately and alert he was. Head erect and body seemingly ready to spring into the air. Slowly I moved back out of sight for I didn't want to disturb him in hopes my wife Bar- bara might get down to see this rare visitor to our pond. But all my caution was in vain for Hick, a most inquisitive dog, had to poke about and scare them out. Off they flew -- three of them. I hurried to the shack where the hay was in hopes I'd be done quickly and perhaps they'd return. The drake wood duck is the most beautiful of all our ducks. For the fun of it I looked up the description in my favorite waterfowl reference book, "The Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America" by Kortright, and found it used 28 lines of color descrip- tion to identify this splendid beauty. Wood Duck's Color Dazzles The wonder and joy of observing this and other waterfowl are the variations in iridescence produced as the bird changes position in relation to the light. Often what appears dark suddenly changes into iridescent greens, blues and purple. These changing colors mingled with reds, yellows, orange and others with lines of white to set them off and a dazzl- ing red eye make this wood duck, once seen, one you'll never forget. Even the female is more attractive than the general run of subdued females of other species. Wood ducks have many local names such as woody, acorn duck, swamp duck, tree duck and brancher. The latter refers to the duck's ten- dency often to sit in trees preening itself. Actually there are more "woodies" around than most realize. The Jules Bonds, who moved from Shelter Island to Peconic to enjoy our North Fork, have a lovely freshwater pond area where they have had as many as 10 wood ducks feeding at one time. Wood ducks were once a rare find indeed and almost became extinct. A closed season for many years gave them a boost. With a more under- standing public and a tightening on hunting limits, this duck of woodland Focus on Nature ponds and swamps has bounced back so that most can enjoy its beauty once again. This duck seldom visits the seacoast or salt marsh. Wood duck boxes are one of the ways man can help but these, like most bird - nesting boxes, must be put up in the right spot, built to certain specifications and protected from vandals such as marauding raccoons. Interesting enough I've found the lit- tle kestrel, or as some might know it, the sparrow hawk, enjoys nesting in wood -duck boxes. I've often seen them enjoying the safety and spa- ciousness" of these boxes that are sur- rounded by water. Small in Size Normal wood ducks seek out old tree cavities large enough for them to enter. They are small ducks, the female weighing but a pound and a quarter, and therefore they can squeeze into holes as small as four inches in diameter. The bird never nests in the fork of a tree or on the ground but always in cavities. It uses no nesting material, laying its dull white or creamy eggs on the rubbled floor. The height can be from three to four feet from the ground or water to fifty or more feet in the air. The amazing part about this duck is not so much that it nests in a tree cavity but that the young literally jump out of the nest no matter how high it is. Imagine a nest 30 -40 feet in the air and a day after hatching the chicks climb up inside the cavity and then jump, free - falling to the ground, only to bounce and then be off on their way. Apparently, none the worse for wear. Once on the ground it's another adventure to get to the pond or river for only then is the real danger from land predators over. This is why their nest is usually close to water. A stray, wild cat, rac- coon or fox is always looking for a meal along the way. Wood Ducks'Ea ting Habits Once in the water the ducklings and their' mother spend the early part of the summer living off seeds, grasses, insects and other palatable material until they can fly. Once air- borne they'll venture inland and by fall they'll be eating seeds, berries and nuts particularly acorns and beechnuts. All of this is ground up in their powerful gizzards so the chemi- cals of the stomach can then extract the nutrients. Their diet is 90 per- cent vegetable matter and a mere 10 percent animal matter, which is made up mostly of insects of all sorts. My walk to the hay shack to feed the cows was rewarded in many ways. I'd had a brisk walk in the first snow of the year. I fed the cows who seemed most appreciative and I had a glimpse of one of nature's most col- orful ducks. Then, to top it off as I sat at the table before the big picture window a half an hour later having breakfast, what do you think I saw winging their way through the trees heading directly for the pond? Two wood ducks. Do you think we'll be privileged to see them again? I surely hope so.