Black Ducks and Canada Geese

     As commonplace as they are here in winter, black ducks and Canada geese are my favorite waterfowl in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  They are both hardy and handsome species in winter throughout eastern North America.  They are sturdy in all kinds of weather and conditions.  They congregate and rest on most every pond, lake and creek in Lancaster County, often the same waters at the same time.  Both are dark birds, but liven the impoundments and waterways they assemble on,  and help make winter here more bearable.
     Black ducks are large puddle ducks that are closely related to mallard ducks.  Black ducks  originally nested in eastern forests, probably the reason they are so dark, to blend into their shady surroundings in swamps.  They do have a bit of color with their dark plumage, however.  They have white under their wings and purple speculums on their wings, both of which are visible when they fly.  And they have orange feet like mallards.   
     Mallards live throughout the world, in more open habitats than the blacks do.  When the forests of eastern North America were leveled for farmland, mallards moved into that open country where they mixed with the local black ducks that were beginning to adapt to a more open habitat.  But black ducks are still secretive and wary, often swimming under the branches of trees hanging over the water along shorelines.
     This species of duck mostly raises young in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, and winters in salt marshes along the Atlantic coast of the United States, where it always has.  Recently, however, black ducks are also wintering on impoundments and waterways in inland farmland where they find shelter and food.  Black ducks, like mallards, feed mostly on an abundance of waste corn kernels in harvested corn fields through winter.
     Black ducks really do look black from a distance, or when on ice or snow, or in the air.  And they look robust, which they are, ready for any kind of harsh weather.  Like all waterfowl, black ducks have a thick layer of down under larger outer, water-proof feathers that shed wind and water. 
     Black ducks in winter form small flocks of their own, with a score or more individuals in each group.  But singles or a pair or two of them will be in gatherings of mallards here in winter.  When the blacks and mallards are together, one can see that the blacks are a bit bigger and more rugged looking than their relatives.  These two ducks species are so closely related that they quack much the same, have mostly the same habits and sometimes interbreed.         
     Wintering Canada geese form large, noisy flocks of themselves on most every impoundment and waterway in Lancaster County.  Each stately goose has gray-brown body feathering with a black neck and head.  And there is a white chin strap on each cheek.
     Hordes of Canadas rest, socialize and preen their feathers on larger bodies of water.  But when hungry, flock after flock of them, one after another in turn, run as a body of individual geese across the water or ice while flapping their wings to take off, group after group, into the wind for better lift, all the geese honking excitedly, as if encouraging each other to fly swiftly to harvested corn fields to ingest waste corn kernels on the ground, or to rye fields to pluck shoots of winter rye.  They really are an amazing sight to see taking flight from water or ice.  When they reach the decided upon field, their masses circle it several times as they watch for any kind of danger.  Finally a group starts floating down into the wind on great wings spread like parachutes to the field.  The other flocks follow as if on an aerial highway to the ground, all of them honking loudly and incessantly.  And when full, the geese run  over the field into the wind and fly back to their impoundment to rest and digest.  But I will stress here that the Canadas don't ruin rye crops.  They pluck the blades, but leave the roots in the ground to grow new shoots.
     Yes, wintering black ducks and Canada geese are truly great additions to bird populations in Lancaster County.  They are interesting to experience.