WINTERING WATERFOWL AT BLACKWATER REFUGE

     During winter in years past, I enjoyed seeing and hearing, in person, big flocks of stately Canada geese, elegant tundra swans, overwhelming snow geese and several kinds of handsome ducks in wildlife refuges in New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.  But during November, December and into January of 2020 and 2021, I watched flocks of those same kinds of waterfowl through Blackwater Wildlife Refuge's live camera in Maryland, and our computer screen at home.  

     Expecting big congregations of geese, swans and ducks by mid-November, Blackwater staff flooded two retention basins a few inches deep.  Those basins were dry all summer, which allowed the growth of grasses and other plants that produced seeds by autumn.  That vegetation was still standing in the basins when the water flowed into them.  A little later, some Canada geese, tundra swans and a small variety of ducks landed on the shallow water of those retention basins, with the intention of staying in the vicinity of those basins all winter.

     Around Christmas Day in 2020, a blizzard and freeze hit Minnesota and Wisconsin; foul weather that chased most water-loving fowl, including Canada geese, tundra swans, northern pintail ducks and mallard ducks, out of the Mississippi River area.  I think some of those geese, swans and ducks settled on the open waters of  Blackwater Refuge a few days later, judging by the sudden increase of those birds there. 

     The geese, swans and ducks mentioned above all "tip-up", with their tails pointing skyward, to feed on vegetation on the bottoms of shallow waters.  Those same waterfowl species also fly out to nearby, harvested corn fields to shovel up kernels of corn.      

     The majestic Canada geese usually dominate the shallow-water basins at Blackwater by their large numbers, big body sizes and constant, melodious honking, especially when they take flight from those basins.  Sometimes their noisy, airborne flocks, that stir our souls, are silhouetted black and beautifully before sunrises and sunsets, as they wing along in long lines and large V's.  I, for one, never tire of seeing and hearing flocks of Canada geese, particularly when they are in the air.

     The big, magnificent tundra swans are also abundant on the basins at Blackwater.  They, too, are never silent, but I enjoy hearing their constant whooping.  Tundra swans and Canada geese both are common at Blackwater because those species of waterfowl have long wintered on Maryland's Eastern Shore close to the huge Chesapeake Bay with all its backwaters and channels.      

     The graceful beauty of tundra swans is particularly highlighted when groups of these large birds run across the water, their powerful wings beating, to take flight.  Their webbed feet running over the water always sounds like applause to me.  

     Tundra swans are most beautiful while flying, especially in front of winter sunrises and sunsets that silhouette their charming forms.  And, as big as they are, they float down gently as snowflakes when coming in for a landing on water or the ground.  

     Wintering flocks of handsome pintail ducks and mallard ducks are also common at Blackwater's retention basins and harvested corn fields.  Pintails are streamlined and the drakes have long tail feathers.  Mallard drakes have totally green heads in winter, making them attractive.  Hens of both species are brown, with darker streaking, camouflaging them, which is important when brooding eggs and raising ducklings.  

     Interestingly, pintails obviously court in winter.  About five drakes surround a hen, who takes off in speedy flight.  The males follow her in the air and the drake who stays with her gets to be her mate.

     Shallow water basins at Blackwater, and other wildlife refuges, are interesting in winter, even when viewed on a computer screen.  If a reader is unable to be there in person, try to get it on your computer.

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