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Duck Migration at
Shenango Lake
Today I visited Shenango Reservoir with my friend, the
waterfowl artist Vince Pagliaroli. As we hiked down
toward the shoreline, we noticed that the hardwood
branches above us were still bare of leaves, but the sky
was full of sunshine, and promising patches of pale
green shoots intermingled with the matted brown winter
grass.
“Look,” said Vince. “Bald eagles.”
I gazed upward and there they were, two majestic
raptors with white heads and white tailfeathers soaring
gloriously against the bright blue skies.
Later we spotted dozens of migrating ducks on the deep
brown waters of the lake: bufflehead drakes in brilliant
white plumage along with darker hens, big-headed
colorful hooded mergansers, and a scattering of drake
and hen mallards. These were mostly diving ducks, and we
watched through binoculars as each bird disappeared
under the surface seeking gizzard shad and reappeared
seconds later.
“From the first of March to mid-April, you can see
migrating ducks coming through this area on their way to
Canada,” said Vince. “We’re on the very western edge of
the Atlantic Flyway. The fall migration is good, but the
spring migration is the Super Bowl for conservation
groups like Ducks Unlimited. You’ll see goldeneyes,
pintails, ring-necked ducks, wood ducks, and more.”
I’m not much of a waterfowler, but Vince has spent a
lifetime hunting and studying ducks and geese across
North America. He is knowledgeable and interesting, the
perfect companion on my pre-spring day of duck-watching.
Good luck out there. And have a great week outdoors.
~ Don Feigert, 3-4-09
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