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Kelly C. Ballantyne's avatar

The Canvasback is lovely. Favorite duck—that’s so hard to pick!

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

It really is. Scoters, mergansers, eiders…dabblers, divers…too many to choose from!

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Kelly C. Ballantyne's avatar

So many! Don’t even get me started on Long-tailed Ducks and Harlequins. I even had a dream once I saw a new species, like a Harlequin but in all shades of magenta and swimming in a local river. 😂

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

YES I love it. I was dreaming about birds so often I’ve started a dream list. I’m always inventing new species in my subconscious lol

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Sandra Kay's avatar

ducks are my favorite as well!! Personal fave? Bufflehead. Canvasback #2.

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

Bufflehead is one of the best for sure. My sister calls them Dufflebaghead. Cutest duck out there

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Autumn DeChurch's avatar

I help rescue waterfowl. I fell in love with a black Swedish mallard hybrid in 2018. He reminded me of the kings "frownie Brownie" dessert when they had those. So that was his name. He was so so so intelligent. The sweetest gentleman ever. He landed in the park I do most of my help. Lower Burrell pa. The catch and release fishing really causes major issues. I tried getting it stopped (there is an entire river 5 minutes away) and no luck. This is him (click on link): https://photos.app.goo.gl/FhLjsmHp1j18V2kd8

Ppl often do not go the speed limit either. He wasn't big in crossing the street. He did get his first "girlfriend" the spring before he passed. He never got to have kids. I was hoping for one of those happy but sad movie endings where a month or 2 down the line id see little ducklings that were just like him or that his mate would at least lay eggs. She didn't that yr. He got hit by a car in mid flight. We could tell by his body. I was at least blessed enough with closure and got to give him a gorgeous grave at my mother in law's back yard. He was to good for that park and for this world (is what I tell myself). He was absolutely perfect. My little man. When I seen the pic of that hybrid my heart stopped. I never see ducks that look as much like him as that pic does. They'll look similar but the colors are in the wrong spots or off. This yr I got 2 green winged teal spending the winter with me and my mallards. They're adorable and so so tiny. I love them. Ty for the pics and yes ducks are making their way and lots of times it's not in the safest places for them. That is why we need to educate our youth as to why it is so important to NOT LITTER. I constantly clean up litter at the park I was speaking of. It makes me so angry. Ppl have hands for a reason...use them & toss your trash in the numerous trash cans infront of you. Bc if you didn't have hands you'd wish you did. Take care& #saveourbirds !

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

Thanks for reading and thanks for all you do to protect birds. A lot of fishing happens on the creek behind our house. Too often I have to remove tangled fishing line that some thoughtless person couldn't be bothered to. So many hazards out there for birds. Too few people like you. I'm sorry for the loss of your hybrid, and I hope my lookalike brought you some joy!

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James Freitas's avatar

Excellent storytelling and wonderful ducks. Very refreshing to read another writer with clear passion for waterfowl. They don’t get enough love.

Beautiful decoy. I have a couple carvings of ducks. The artistry of decoys is insane. I’ve whittled ducks, never decoys—that much detail is worlds past my skillset. A decoy on a bookshelf is tough to beat.

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

Thanks as always for reading James!! I love ducks so much. Fascinating birds and such a breath of fresh air in winter

I've never tried carving, painting, drawing, sculpting, etc. any bird. I really admire people with the talent to make bird art

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Neil Barker's avatar

Nice collection of waterfowl. One of my favourites to see are Hood Mergansers. The males have such striking colours.

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

They were my fav duck until the Canvasback came around. Wandering eye I guess

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Alexandra Hidalgo's avatar

I love that you're able to find so many beautiful ducks in these rather blah places. Talk about finding beauty in unexpected places!

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Nathaniel Bowler's avatar

Pittsburgh continues to fascinate. So much history, a lot of it crumbling away

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