[texbirds] Re: Long-tailed Duck in Palacios - update
- From: Bob and Ruth Friedrichs <twofried@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx" <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 20:20:31 -0600
Brush,
Thanks very much for sharing this history on Oldsquaw/LTDU. What a shame such
numbers were once killed in gill nets; doubtless still occurs in places like
Mexico where gill nets are still used. Still it is encouraging that the
prediction of many ducks becoming extinct did not occur. Thanks to game laws
and success management recent data suggests that our duck (and geese)
populations are as healthy as they have ever been; a very good thing. Ducks
certainly seem like happy children as they chase each other around on the bay...
Bob Friedrichs
Palacios
Sent from my iPad
> On Nov 23, 2013, at 7:28 PM, Brush Freeman <brushfreeman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Bob and others...Nice...I wanted to share this with you about Oldsquaws
> from D. E Elliot 's , The Wild Fowl of North America published back in 1898
> as I still find it most interestin
> These birds were considered the worst of the waterfowl for human
> consumption and difficult to shoot...This is a direct quote...."...the
> majority of our Ducks have been annihilated, and the now despised Mud Hen
> or Blue Peter (Fulica americana) has become the game bird of our
> successors, then the Old Squaw, in its descendents, may be the choicest and
> most eagerly south species of Water Fowl in the opinion of future
> sportsmen. But when that day comes, as undoubtedly it surely will, and the
> majority of our magnificent Water Fowl has become extinct, one dreads to
> think of the loneliness and stillness of our marshes, lakes and tidal
> waters, which once resounded in spring and autumn, aye and in many places
> throughout the winter, with the glad cries and cheerful calls of countless
> busy creatures, will then lie tenant-less and deserted, never more to echo
> with the voices of Nature's happy children"
>
> Then F. H. Kortright 1953 writes....
>
> " The Oldsquaw is probably the most expert diver among the ducks; not only
> is it so quick at submerging that it disappears at the flashof the gun, but
> it reaches depths that would be unbelieveable were they not properly
> accredited. There are many well-substantiated records, extending over a
> long period of time, of these ducks being caught in the hundreds in the
> gill nets of the fishermen of the Great Lakes. These nets are set at
> 50-180 feet [deep] and are often over 8,000 feet in length........The ducks
> so caught are usually turned over to ferterlizer companies.......In 1917
> Dr. W. E. Sanders, investigating the reports of ducks taken in this manner,
> found at ONE fertilizer factory,.12 tons of these ducks, estimated at 1500
> birds to the ton, or about 18,000 individuals."
>
> In terms of table fare Oldsquaws were pretty much deemed inedible..And
> there is so much more in these volumes I only wish I could pass on.....You
> can tell I am busy here.
>
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> Brush Freeman
> 503-551-5150 Cell
> http://texasnaturenotes.blogspot.com/
> Finca Alacranes., Utley,Texas
>
>
> On Sat, Nov 23, 2013 at 6:20 PM, Bob and Ruth Friedrichs <
> twofried@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> For those interested in the LT Duck, I watched him off and on between 2:30
>> and 5:20 this afternoon; put him to bed at about 5:20. He was feeding
>> quite heavily during the last hour before dark. During his dives, he
>> stayed down 15-20 seconds. Not long I suppose for an ocean duck though the
>> Tres Palacios is only 4-6 feet in most places. He was near the Buffleheads
>> and a Loon for a while but not in the flock like earlier. He did not seem
>> to play well with the Scaup.
>>
>> If you come, bring a scope and warm clothes. The wind really cuts through
>> you. Most of the day he was among Buffleheads and blends in quite well.
>> Look the Bufflehead flocks over very closely (also had a couple of Horned
>> Grebes hiding among them).
>>
>> The last place I saw the LT Duck was about 200 yards out in the bay, in
>> front of 2 lots that are for sale, near 429 East Bayshore Dr. This is all
>> private land but you can park along the road and see between the houses to
>> the bay; and quite well from in front of the 2 lots that are for sale.
>> East Bayshore is east of Business 35 in Palacios. Earlier in the day, I
>> saw the bird further west, more in front of 317 E. Bayshore.
>>
>> I'll look for the bird again in the morning and post an update, either
>> positive or negative. Hope some of you are able to get over to Palacios
>> and see him; handsome bird.
>>
>> Bob Friedrichs
>> Palacios / Houston
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>>> On Nov 23, 2013, at 2:34 PM, Bob and Ruth Friedrichs <
>>> twofried@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> A beautiful male Long-tailed Duck in winter plumage has joined the
>> Buffleheads and Scaup in the Tres Palacios off of East Bayshore Drive in
>> Palacios. Seen at 2:30.
>>>
>>> Bob Friedrichs
>>> Palacios / Houston
>>> 925 998 7052
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPadEdit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
>>> //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
>>>
>>> Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking
>> permission
>>> from the List Owner
>> Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
>> //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
>>
>> Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
>> from the List Owner
>
>
> Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
> //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
>
> Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
> from the List Owner
>
>
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
//www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
from the List Owner
Other related posts:
