![]() ![]() Six were banded in Alberta, two in Washington, one in Oregon, one in B.C. ![]() Ten of the twenty Mallards were banded near Fairbanks. In return, they received information about where and when the ducks were originally banded. They recorded numerals stamped on each band (reading all nine numerals is difficult), then reported details to the database tracking all birds banded in North America. Searching four local areas-Beacon Hill Park, Kings Pond, Swan Lake and Esquimalt Lagoon-the Donneckes found more than twenty Mallards with leg bands in 2013. ![]() These heavy ducks are speedy, too: one flock of Mallards was clocked flying at 25 mph. They fly incredible distances to get here and then give us a free show every day.ĭaniel and Leonard Donnecke have proven that some Mallards in Victoria flew here from Fairbanks, Alaska, a distance of more than 3435 km (2134 miles)! That is a lot of flying. Their feathers, particularly their underlying 'down' feathers, are used in many products, while the white Peking duck is the most common variety raised for eggs and meat.Mallards-the most common, easily observed, ever-present birds in Beacon Hill Park-are more interesting than you might think. Mallard ducks live 5 to 10 years in the wild and 8+ years in captivity.ĭucks have many economic uses. Mallard ducks have a molting season, they are vulnerable during this time as the molting stops them flying. The male Mallard has a glossy green head, grey wings and belly, while the female has a brown-speckled plumage. The two most famous fictional ducks are Disney's Donald Duck, who premiered in 1934, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck, who premiered in 1937. This has been conclusively disproved through different scientific acoustic tests, and was even featured as "busted" on an episode of the Discovery Channel show Mythbusters.ĭucks have been domesticated as pets and farm animals for more than 500 years, and all domestic ducks are descended from either the mallard or the Muscovy duck.īecause of their familiarity and comic nature, ducks are often featured as fictional characters. It is a myth that a duck's quack won't echo. Most male ducks are silent and very few ducks actually "quack." Instead, their calls may include squeaks, grunts, groans, chirps, whistles, brays and growls. A hard nail at the tip of the bill helps with foraging, and a comb-like structure on the sides of the bill strains small insects and crustaceans from water. This gives the eggs the best possible cushioning and insulation.ĭucks are omnivorous, opportunistic eaters and will eat grass, aquatic plants, insects, seeds, fruit, fish, crustaceans and other types of food.Ī duck's bill is specialized to help it forage in mud and to strain food from the water. When constructing her nest, a hen will line it with soft down feathers she plucks from her own breast. Most duck species are monogamous for breeding season but they do not mate for life. During that month, they are completely flightless and more vulnerable to predators. Male ducks have an eclipse plumage similar to females that they wear after the breeding season for about a month as their new feathers grow. A duck's feathers are so waterproof that even when the duck dives underwater, its downy under layer of feathers will stay completely dry.ĭucks are precocial, which means that ducklings are covered with down and able to walk and leave the nest just a few hours after hatching.Ī hen will lead her ducklings up to a half mile or more over land after hatching in order to find a suitable water source for swimming and feeding. Wood Ducks at the Northern Pike Rearing Pond at CWCĪll ducks have highly waterproof feathers as a result of an intricate feather structure and a waxy coating that is spread on each feather while preening. ![]()
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