[TN-Bird] Finally!! Black-bellied Whistling Duck newly hatched young!- Ensley Bottoms

July 19, 2008
Ensley Bottoms
Shelby Co. TN
 
This week I'd only been able to find the male Black-bellied each time I had  
a chance to get down to the pits. Early this AM, I found both out feeding on  
Barnyard Grass seeds, in one of the open pits east of the main north / south  
road. Each time that I'd just find him I had hoped she was setting eggs but 
then  she would show back up but this week she had been gone too much.
 
I took a few photos before the female left with the male trailing behind.  
They went in a direction I'd never seen them go before and settled in a  remote 
corner that is almost impossible to see into. Roy Knispel and his wife  from 
Johnson City showed up as they had said they would while on their way to  
northwest Arkansas. I showed them around the area and checked on the  
Black-bellied 
Ducks a couple of times but they were nowhere to be found. I  viewed the area 
through the brush from over 200 yards away as I did not want to  disturb her 
if she truly was nesting.
 
After Roy left, I checked the area again with the scope but no Whistling  
Ducks. I went to President's Island and returned to meet David Kirschke around 
2  
PM. We checked the area again and no luck but after we turned around I caught 
a  glimpse of two pink bills. Dave put up his scope to get his TN lifer look 
and  said " I think there are some ducklings there". I got my scope out and in 
a  minute both of us got looks as the 2 adults pealed out into the water 
followed  by at least TEN, tiny downy young! These are really boldly mark young 
and  evidently hatched just this morning as I don't believe she would have left 
 
new hatchlings unattended. They bobbed around like little corks. 
 
The first nesting in TN was at Reelfoot, 30 years ago in 1978.  Congrats to 
Mom and Dad.  
Good Birding  !!!

Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA
6300 Memphis-Arlington Road
Bartlett, TN  38135
http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/
What is this feathered thing that  lifts my heart to the heavens.




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