The National tribune., 1902-06-19
COLONY OF NESTING TEAL.
Wisconsin Culners Preparing Sport 70
Themselves in the Fall.

The man who wandcrs these days in the
Horizon marshes of Wisconsin or i'll any
of the great semi-aqucOus areas about the
headwaters of the Mississippi will find
that there is no such thing as n flock o!
wild ducks on this continent. The bands
which remained together for veal or woe
all through the Autumn and Winter have
broken into pairs and are busy keeping
house.
Even when coupled. however, they
have preserved their cast and teals do not
nest near mallards nor sprig-tailS near the
rcdheads. In fact, mallar1S. rcdhcads and
others Of the larger and more valued
ducks have little Of grcgariousness in their
nesting.
They pitch and build home wherever
the surrounding conditions are suitable
and birds of the same flock may be many
miles apart i'll June. TcalS, however. form
nesting colonies and stay pretty close to-
ccthcr, though the families do not inter
fcre.
This is noticeable on the Horizon
marshes, which are one of the greatest
f the American breeding grounds for
teal. both blue-wingcd and srcen-winged.
These marshes are controlled by club
If Wisconsin sportsmen and no poaching
is allowed.
In fact, nothing is permitted that will
interfere with the breeding of the birds
or disturb them in any way. The marshes
lust now are n vast hatchery and in the
Fall tens of thousands of the teal will
wing their way southwark from them,
first paying toll to the clubmen
When Il wild duck is protected there is
20 winged creature which has an easier
time in raising family. On the Horizon
young ducks has been rclentlessly pur-
sued for some years
There are some enemies. of course, who
may be kept i'll check, but cannot be wiped
out. Turtles. either loggerheads or snap
pers, are fond of young ducks and drag
them under as soon as they begin to
swim. In the deeply watered parts of the
marsh are some large bass. and there is
nothing which a big bass likes better than
Il tender yellow ducklinG. two days out
of the shell, and padding about in the
trustful simplicity of youth.
These natural foes do not take n hun
dredth part of the broods and the annual
output is tremendous The brooding duck
differs from other birds. in that she has
water all around her and food ready to
her bill without trouble of going far for
It. Consequently, she is able to devote
nearly all her time to incubation. and the
result is early and healthy hatchings.
The young will be ont of the shells
early in July, some breeds showing in
June, and certain parts OF the wild marsh
land will then have an almost domestic
appearance. The keepers go about in
nunts or tiat-bOttomcd skiffs, observing
the state Of the wafer and feed and siZ-
ing up the crop. much rs if the younglings
were intended for market
They catch all of the bass they can and
STAY all the mink and break into the musk
rat houses and altogether have a reason
ably good time for hired hands
Shooting begins on Sept l. The ducks
do not leave for the south in large num-
hers before October-the Horizon birds
are, indeed. about the last to Go-and the
clubmen get lot of shooting at their own
brood before the bigger ducks come down
from the north.