Some Ducks

Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to visit the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy several times. Located in Litchfield CT, the LRWC is an aviary housing waterfowl from around the world.  It is an excellent place to view, photograph, and learn more about various species of birds. I generally take an inordinate amount of photos on each trip and although the LRWC is full of exotic foreign species, my focus always seems to land on the north american birds we are mostly familiar with.

For more info on the aviary: lrwc.net

Here are a few of the photos I have shot there.

Drake canvasback

ruddy ducks and lesser scaup

Drake wood duck close-up

Hen wood duck portrait

Another close up. Hen ruddy duck

Gadwall pair

Drake pintail

Drake green winged teal portrait

A sight I'd like to see in the wild someday. King and spectacled eider with a few other sea ducks in the mix.

Signs of Spring

February is almost gone. Daytime temperatures have been generally warmer and although the nights are still cold, the first signs of spring are showing. The disappearing snow is making way for the first plants of the year to sprout through.  I have noticed skunk cabbage in various streambeds while looking for shed antlers and snowdrops are pushing through in front of the office.  As waterfowlers we have been noticing it as well.  Keeping our eyes peeled to the marshes and opening fresh water we have seen several species that let us know spring is on the way.  While the strong winter numbers remain, wood ducks, teal, and ringnecks have all been coming through in noticeable numbers.  We have also seen several woodcock (a small migratory upland bird) feeding on the roadside in brushy areas.

Woodcock 

Ringnecks and  a Lesser Scaup (far left bird)

Green winged teal drake flyby. 

We have been continuing to band ducks, although our success rate has been a little lower than the initial couple weeks.  Full traps seem to be a thing of the past and we are beginning to prepare for some new tactics using large propelled nets that we shoot over groups of birds.  We will also be heading out on the big water to trap sea ducks.

Jay and a hen black.

A Canadian canada goose that we caught in one of our traps. Banded in Newfoundland and Labrador!

A nice sunrise view of the Newport bridge earlier this week.

Antlers Somewhere

Each winter male whitetail deer shed their antlers between December and February to make room for new (generally larger) antlers.  There is no rhyme or reason to where deer lose their antlers.  They can fall off while a deer is sleeping, feeding, walking, running, jumping, or just standing still. Sometimes they get knocked off from thick brush,  and sometimes deer expedite the process by rubbing them on a tree or sticking them in mud.

What happens to the antlers? Most become food for mice, squirrels, and other rodents, but a few can be found before it's too late. With hunting season gone and a couple months left until fishing comes into full swing,  "shed hunting" helps fill in some of the down time, it helps keep us active, and helps us scout properties for future deer seasons.

Although some people make it look easy, I have never been very successful at this game. Until this winter I have only found two shed antlers, both incidentally while tracking shot deer, and both had already been found by hungry rodents.  Even though it's definitely not my niche, I still go searching every winter.  I love being in the woods, regardless of what I find... Although a couple antlers every now and then would be nice! 

I have gone on quick walks a couple times this winter, but this past Saturday a few of us spent several hours in the woods in a couple spots loaded with deer.  John struck first, then second soon after with two right side antlers, both under cedar thickets.  The first was from a nice deer, likely an eight-point if the other side matched, and the second was a large spike horn.  A little later on I actually found one myself!  A heavy six point right side (again assuming the other side matched).  We spent a couple more hours looking, but came up empty handed minus a few random deer bones scattered in the woods. 

The successful shed hunt was followed with venison backstrap on the grill and couple cold beers. 

I'm not a fan of litter, but it can make for some cool finds in the woods.

Deer tracks in the snow.

A buck rub from this past fall. 

An unfortunate downside to a hard winter. The coyotes win one every now and then.

Rhode Island late geese - Final Day

Some photos from the final day of the late goose season. It was another good one.

We call Kyle pop tart for a reason.

Jay flagging to a far off flock

Jim and George getting up to shoot.

Kyle shooting.

The Pile.

Unique goose wing.

Duck Trapping: Week 2

Week two of duck banding was another success.  We banded about 200 more ducks, bringing our total to somewhere in the 400 range. We are only two or three black ducks shy of last years total of 47 with plenty of time left to trap. Again this week we recaptured three previously banded birds: A hen mallard from Massachusetts, a hen mallard from New Brunswick, and a black duck we banded in last years project.  Warming temps this week may spread birds out, making it more difficult to hold up good numbers, but we'll do our best along with mixing in a few new tricks.

Josh with a New Brunswick mallard.

A domestic mallard hybrid. No band for you!

Squeezing myself into one of the land traps.

An unwanted visitor to the duck trap. A ring-billed gull.

Still plenty of sea ducks off the coast. 

See you next year!

Duck Trapping: Week 1

John V, Josh B, and I got out this week to kick off our second season of duck trapping and banding in RI.  We were able to set traps three times this week, all at different locations.  It was a complete success, we trapped and released 22 black ducks and approximately 200 mallards.  Of those birds three were previously banded (a male mallard x black duck hybrid banded in New Brunswick 2007, a female mallard banded here in Rhode Island last summer and a male mallard without any info available)  The rest were released with shiny new leg bands to carry with them wherever they may end up.

Lets hope we can keep the numbers up for the next few weeks. Here are some photos from week one of the project.

American Black Duck

Our main goal for the trapping/banding project.

As if 4am start times aren't bad enough!

A drake black duck that fell for the free corn.

pre-band

Getting a band

A hen mallard looks on as Josh records all her info.

John with a freshly banded hen mallard.

Two mallards and a black duck waiting in the crate.

An adult black duck wing. We use the primary coverts to establish their age (The second row of feathers just above the middle of the photo).