submitted photo
Ring-necks ducks are often seen during peak migration
Just when it appears the autumn spectacle may be ending as colorful leaves fall from the trees, there is something new we can look forward to on the many lakes and ponds in western Maine. It’s peak waterfowl migration, and many ducks and geese are now appearing on the inland waterways which serve as key “stopover” places along their migration routes. The lakes and ponds, rich in aquatic life, provide ideal feeding places, and the shorelines have protective coves which offer shelter from bitter cold temperatures and harsh winds. The main route waterfowl are following is the “eastern flyway”, and depending on the species, these southbound travelers will seek either a more southerly location along the coast or a warm gulf state to spend the winter.
A search along the shorelines is likely to be rewarded with seeing mallards and black ducks. Male and female black ducks are similar looking with grey bodies, yellow-green bills, and dark purple wing stripes boarded with a black outline. Female mallards look quite similar to black ducks, with orange bills, brown bodies, and a blue wing stripe bordered with a white outline. Male mallards have very distinctive markings, with their glossy green head, pale yellow bill, and chestnut-colored chest.
Take a moment to watch these two dabbling ducks feed as they frequently tip upside down using their long necks and bills to sweep the submerged shoreline plants in search of aquatic invertebrates. Their bills have specially designed grooved plates to trap food items. It’s always a treat, too, to see the ducks take-off as they appear to magically ascend right off the water. Dabbling ducks have an ultralight body and very broad wings that enable them to ascend very quickly.
Protective vegetative coves are great places to look for wood ducks, so named, because they nest in tree cavities. Male wood ducks have the most ornate color patterns and markings of all North American waterfowl. They primarily feed as a dabbling duck, although unusual for dabblers, they also make short shallow dives in search of small aquatic animals.
A scan farther from shore may reveal one of the diving ducks. Diving birds are heavy with thickened bones, short wings, and webbed feet located far back on their streamlined bodies. Using their feet to propel themselves underwater, many divers, including the common loon, can dive to depths of 75 feet or more and stay down for over 30 seconds.
The principle diving birds seen during peak migration are the common and hooded merganser, common goldeneye, ring-necked duck, bufflehead, and the common loon. The best time to look for these divers is in the early morning when they often appear close to the shoreline.
An excellent place to see this autumn waterfowl migration is along Greenwood Road in the Town of Greenwood. All along this road, there are great places to see out into the channels and ponds. So grab a pair of good binoculars, and set out on an early morning, to experience one final celebration of autumn!
Paul Motts lives in Bethel, having retired as a Natural History Specialist and a Publications Writer with the National Park Service.
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