Have you heard the saying? It means it's raining outside.
Did you know that ducks are categorized by whether they are "dabbling" ducks or "diving" ducks? Here's what dabbling looks like:
It means the ducks are dipping down to scrounge for food off the bottom. Bolsa Chica Wetlands is a good place for dabbling ducks. This one happens to be an adult Northern Pintail which is pretty distinctive with those sharply pointed tail feathers. They are dabbling for "seeds taken from the water and while grazing" according to my Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America
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The often "dabble" in groups which is especially entertaining for kids:
Diving ducks love the wetlands, too. These adult breeding Buffleheads also like the Wetlands and will dive down and swim quite a ways before popping up like a bath toy. Sibley's says they "dive for mollusks, crustaceans, and insect larvae." They are also quite small for ducks.
Where to go to see dabbling and diving ducks?
- Bolsa Chica Wetlands
- San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary
- Any OC park with a lake
How to identify birds:
- To really enjoy the moment with your kids, talk to them about what you are seeing and let them try to pick out memorable traits
- See if they want to make up a name for the bird! I love it when kids do that!
- Snap a quick photo if you have a camera
- Then, when you get home pull out your Sibley Guide and look through it with them. If you'd rather go the high tech route - there's a Merlin Bird ID app or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a mindblowing bird site.
Originally published in February 2014.
