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Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks: A Family Outing at Plum Creek
Photo courtesy Mike Davis
Mike Davis
A pleasant surprise awaited me on my early morning walk this week. A pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and five young ducklings were swimming among the cattail reeds at the lake in Plum Creek, Kyle, Texas. Their prominent red-orange bills and upright posture made them easy to identify.
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) begin breeding during their first year of life. Pairing often occurs in winter, and bonded pairs may stay together for many years.
Photo courtesy Mike Davis
These ducks typically nest in tree cavities, but they will also use artificial nest boxes or nest on the ground when cavities are unavailable. Once the ducklings hatch, they remain in the nest for 18 to 24 hours to allow their down to dry.
Both parents escort the brood and stay with the young for at least six months. Young birds are able to fly at approximately eight weeks of age and become virtually indistinguishable from adults between 16 and 20 weeks.
Source: Outdoor Alabama
Photo courtesy Mike Davis