The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-11
SOLITARY DUCKS.
birds That Make the Long Journey From
the Far North All Alone.

Birds That Make the Long Journey Fro"
the Far North All Alone.
| Out on a woods lake in early October
| when the sun has sunk behind the forest
and the first gray OF twilight Is falling.
the angler drifting along in his boat WI
sec above the line OF trees single duck
cutting the air and boring down toward
the lakes surface. That duck il an ex-
plorer, prospecting for itself. and Is trying
to find not only a good bed for the night
but place where it may have breakfast
on the morrow.
Ahead of all the legions Of wild fowl
which sweep down in the storm OF wings
when the first severe cold drives them
out Of far Canada are these solitary ones.
Hundreds of miles and days OF travel sepa-
rate them from their fellows.
Why they come SO far ahead, divorcing
themselves from companionship and n.y.
ing about alone for weeks, no naturalist
knows; but each tribe of the fowl contains
these adventurous individuals which re-
fuse to stay near the home nesting ground.
If they find places to suit them they will
remain about them until the others come
down and join them, and then enc day
do not find food and shelter they will keep
on southwark until they do find feeding
and roosting ground to their fancy.
The duck which sweeps over the trees
and visits the lake unheralded and I'M
accompanied may be OF any species, save
the canvasbacks. These fellows are never
known to 60 forth alone seeking what they
may find. A flock Of canvasbacks on a
north lake, numbering a dozen or a thou
sand individuals, will stay there as long IA
they can, then start southwark all at once.
keeping together until the wintering
grounds are reached.
The explorer may be q mallard or sprig-
it's course of conduct will be the same if
it is a stranger to the lake.
II will first sweep all around 1t twice or
thrice; flying we'll up out OF harms way
and noting the bays, the shelter and the
food. When it has made up its mind where
to pitch it will draw nearer to the chosen
spot and gradually lower as 1t circles about.
Being satisfied at last that the bay or
patch Of wild rice contains no enemy, 1t
will dive suddenly down, not pausing to
hover, will strike the water with slight
splash, and moment afterward will disap-
pear in the growth, safe for the night.
If the water is clear and sweet and duck
grass or rice be plentiful. 1t Will spend the
mellow autumn days about it's new home.
sometimes making journeys of miles to
other lakes but always returning at night
fall 1t will remain pitching in the same
bay to roost until thin ice drives it south
ward The man in the boat may shoot
at it as it circles around, but if he misses
1t will leave and find another Lake for its
sleeping place.
AS the days 20 on other single voyagers
drop in and in this way little flocks Of ducks
are built up 1t is not unusual about the
middle of this month to find a little Lake
containing small flocks of mallards. sprigs
widgeons, spoonbls and so forth. each
keeping to itself, each a flock made by
gradual accretion of solitary immigrants
Then comes day of heavy ice and snow
f1urries in the north and several long
V-shaped lines will rush down out of the
gray pail After that the early corners
will lose their distinctiveness.
The man who sees the single duck coming
In over the trees when twilight begins
NAV refrain from shooting. He can then
go back day after day and watch this soil
tary but contented bird getting fat In It's
loneliness