Wednesday Waterfowl of the Week–The Wiley Duck

Mighty Mallards

Our quacky little friends are amazing. If you hadn’t read the title of this post and I were to tell you that there is a bird that can dive down to 200 feet, fly as high as 20,000 feet, and reach a top speed of 100 mph, what would you have guessed that could do that? All that on a diet of algae, small aquatic creatures, berries, and the occasional bread crumbs we throw to them.

Ducks often lay their eggs high in the trees. Even though the females lay them on different days, they all hatch on the same day. Two days later, mom calls to her two day old ducklings to jump out, falling fifty feet or more, landing unharmed on the leafy forest floor. Scientists tell us that they are one of the first species of birds to return to the water, and they have been perfecting their craft for millions of years. All the while, making cute noises and shaking the water off their stubby little tails. I don’t know about you, but I am honored to have rubber ones floating around in my bathtub!

About Scott

The founding member of Terra Cotta Music, Scott is a guitarist, composer, educator, writer, and avid hiker. His love for the outdoors, especially the beautiful trails of Sedona, Arizona has been a great source of creative inspiration. He believes that a close connection to nature brings comfort to our souls and spirits, and tries to capture and reflect that in his music and in this blog. You can email him at scott@terracottamusic.com.
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