Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-02-10
WITH THE WILD DUCKS.
The Common Varieties Can Rarely
BE Seen Closely.

Be Seen Closely.
BY the river, the lake, and the
swamp, where the tall grasses and
reeds are signing in the wind, an in
teresting company OF birds is gath
ering. Perhaps we have made the
acquaintance Of some OF them in
spring when they went north-they
are the wild ducks. DO not expect
them to allow you so close a friend
ship as the robin and other birds that
people do not often harm. For the
ducks. you remember, are great game
birds. and so they have dread OF
everything that looks at all like
shooter. So hide near the water and
watch them from a distance. II we
keep still and out OF sight, they may
come quite close. Most OF the brakes
are handsomely colored, while the
ducks are generally grayish and look
good deal alike at little distance.
When you see one distinctly marked.
black next to white, or any very
dark and light colors which meet
without blending, you may be pretty
sure II Is a drake. Three OF the kinds
we see most often are the scaup. the
mallard, and the pintail. Others are
the teal, which you may know at a
glance, they are so small; the widgeon,
wood-duck. shoveler, black duck, bald
pate, golden-eye, buffiehead, and the
mergansers, or fish-ducks.
II you succeed In getting acquainted
with several of these you will do well.
1t needs patience and good eyes; and
II you can add to these an opera
glass. you will be still better fitted
for duck-hunting.
To stalk ducks near the shore in
open water, approach them by short
stages whenever all are under water
at once A duck will usually remain
under water about half a minute; In
the meantime you have covered a
hundred feet or more OF ground, and
concealed yourself as much as pos
slble, allowing only an opening to
watch from. Sometimes one finds a
wait for the ducks TO come. This ia
the best way to observe them at close
range. l knew of small pond. sur
rounded By willows and other bushes,
where scaup-ducks came every day to
feed. While waiting beside the pond
l have seen flock of ducks sail down
over the water only a hundred feet
from me, then turn and, coming back,
repeat the performance. AS they
swooped down with set wings and
making a loud, swishlng noise, they
were a fine sight, well worth an hour
waiting.
Although ducks are very wary and
alert, they do not readily see danger
when they are about to alight in the
water. This appears to be rather
difficult act, for it seems to engage
their entire attention.
The most common kinds OF ducks
can rarely be seen closely. Even the
black duck Is not often to be studied
} except at an aggravating distance. al
though he is found in every marsh
leaves no trail. But where some black
ducks had been pluming and summing
themselves l have read the story very
plainly In the water. where numer
Gus small, downy feathers foated and
chung to the grassy tussocks.
In a lagoon, in Jackson Park, Chi
cago. where no shooting is allowed, the
ducks are remarkably tame; though or
Lake Michigan, a quarter of a mile
away, they are hunted and are wild
There are other places where ducks
find safe retreats from shooters, and
in these they soon become very tame
st. Nicholas.