Saying goodbye to the ducks

Waterfowl surveys at Stratford Point in April have one very noticeable difference from the preceding month - less birds! Most of our duck species as well as loons and geese are on the move and heading north. Some year-round species like the American Black Duck and Mallard will persist in diminished numbers. Shorebirds are at very low levels right now as well as the wintering species have moved on before the spring migrants have arrived.

Here's a shot of a Long-tailed Duck resting in the survey zone at Stratford Point by me followed by a shot of two Ring-necked Ducks by Alex Kearney.

As Alex notes you can see the rings that their name comes from in the photo - our thanks to him for a nice look at the departing species.

Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photo 1 by Scott Kruitbosch © Connecticut Audubon Society and not to be reproduced without explicit CAS permission; photo 2 by Alex Kearney (ackbluefish@yahoo.com)