Studying Birds and West Nile
September 23, 2009
Ducks on an Icy Pond
February 5, 2009
George Jameson sent us this video of ducks congregating by the open water. How many different kinds of ducks can you see?
In cold weather, iced-over lakes and ponds force waterfowl to crowd into the few remaining areas with open water. Constant swimming can help keep the water’s surface from completely freezing over.
Many birds have no problem standing on ice. That is because their veins and arteries are very close to each other in their legs. Hot blood from the body cools down as it goes to the feet, so the feet won’t melt the ice. And the cold blood returning to the body gets warmed by the blood leaving the body and helps the bird’s body stay warm.
Mallards are the most common ducks in the video but you can also see American wigeon, wood duck, redhead, gadwall, bufflehead, and ring-necked duck.
The “rubby ducky” noises you hear are made by the American wigeon.
Did you find them all?
