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Water fowl have fascinated men for centuries. Their ability to rise into the clouds and see far beyond the horizons that hem us in tugs at our hearts and strains our imaginations. Arkansas provides a unique opportunity to get close to water fowl in their own element. Because of its dense population of ducks Stuttgart is the duck capital of the world and just a few miles away, Brinkley is the goose capital of the world. Citizens in these two areas are blessed to see the skies darken with the solid beat of wings. Some of the flocks are large enough to cover a forty acre field so thickly you can't toss a rock in anywhere without hitting a fowl. The whole state of Arkansas is host to ducks and geese. But in this region nature itself has provided natural reasons for the water fowl to migrate here. Farmers here prepare their croplands to accommodate these annual visitors. They feel a solemn responsibility to continue providing habitat for the waterfowl to thrive upon. Food is left, just for them. Water is hedged up so it can't escape, just for them. Ducks Unlimited and similar organizations are working to make sure the targets continue in plentiful supply. Besides the hunters and the sportsmen there are also those of us who simply want to see a million majestic heads bobbing among the reeds, to perhaps be among the last souls privileged to see this natural wonder. The self-guided tour outlined here is a triangle that starts on the eastern edge of North Little Rock, runs to Stuttgart, then to Brinkley, and back again to North Little Rock. Naturally, the best time of year to see winter waterfowl is between November and late February. Nonetheless this is a fascinating tour at any time of year and I have indeed seen a few waterfowl in here even on the hottest days of summer. |
Geese like to walk and graze. Ducks like to swim and dive.
Since 14 June 2006
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How To Enjoy This TourLet’s lay down some guidelines before we take off so that you can enjoy this trip more. First, some clues as to where you might spot the waterfowl. While we can spot airborne waterfowl at any point along this tour, what we prefer to see is waterfowl peacefully engaged in leisure on the surface of the earth so that we can stop and just admire nature at its finest. Therefore we will be looking in large, open areas for geese, and in marshes we will be looking for ducks. In open fields geese can get down and walk around – grazing very much like tame livestock. There will preferably be water nearby they can retreat to, but that opportunity to graze is more important to them than the water. Any waters they do search for will usually be shallow enough that their long necks can reach the vegetation below the surface. Ducks prefer marshes, hidden
coves, secluded spots. If they do land in open fields it
will be near the center and away from spots hunters might be
hiding in, or they will land where they see other ducks are
already safely paddling. Hunters with decoys out will
frequently resort to the use of duck calls to convince living
ducks in the air that those wooden ducks are at least quacking
like a duck.
Geese
Geese prefer to be monogamous but one gander can have two mates without family squabbles erupting constantly. Geese not only mate for life, if the set ever loses a gosling all three of them may grieve for days. A word of warning to those of us who get too close to nature:
When I believe it is necessary to capture a wounded goose I have someone keep its attention in front while I come up from behind and fling a large coat over its head and wings. Just don’t expect any gratitude out of the goose or any respect from the veterinarians in this area. This process also works with cranes and – if you have the nerve – eagles and buzzards. Ducks
Ducks don't necessarily care about the depth of the water they find because they can dive beneath the surface. Some ducks can dive to a depth of more than a hundred feet. Ducks will eat minnows, small fish and bugs
Feeding at the water's edge ducks use rapid closures of their bills to noisily filter out grains and other goods. Because of the way these ducks dabble around and stir up the mud, farm families in Arkansas will suggest someone go down to the duck pond and wash their face, meaning that water in the duck pond is cleaner than that face is. In Arkansas ducks have a natural affinity for flooded rice fields, marshes and hidden coves – that is, where the water is not so swift and they are protected from the wind or the prying eyes of hungry predators. Some of your smaller ducks need a taxi-way to get airborne. Their feet thrash the water for more liftoff power. Most of your larger ducks can take off straight out of the water. They don't mind being in isolated spots so long as there is a tunnel into the sky they can use for an escape route.
Is that a duck in
the sky? The one fast distinguishing difference between ducks and geese is their wing speeds. Even in the fury of lift off geese have strong, slow wing motion. With wingspans up to seven feet across that just makes sense. The flock will wheel as they rise in an effort to make sure all their family and friends have joined the crowd. Regardless of size, all ducks use a frenetic flutter of wings for liftoff and to keep them airborne -- even on long distance trips. |
The Black-crown Night-Heron feeds at night
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Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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