Squeaky Beaks: West Side Story

Below is a family of what I call Squeaky Beaks (You'll know why once you hear their little sounds they make). I learned they're actually black bellied whistling ducks. I was close enough, right?

Unlike lots of waterfowl I've observed, where the mother is on her own with a brood up to 21 ducklings, these ducks seem to only have one or two... but TWO adults guard themm and fiercely. There is always an adult (orange beak) on either side of the baby (grey beak) which you'll see in the movie below. They let the baby eat while they watch the perimeters, like secret service parents. One adult may eat with the baby, but the other one always keeps watch for a threat. As a result, their population has grown to outnumber the previously dominant Muscovys at the park. And they travel in groups of 7 and 12, so the familial bond remains long after they're all grown.

Here I am throwing bread to a typical family, adolescent in the middle. A hungry party approaches, and you'll be as astonished as I was to see what happens.




Sing along with me: We're gonna have a rumble tonight!

It seems like the parents decided to try to let their offspring try it's hand at self protection for the first minute, but obviously it went too far for the adults comfort and they began to fight (I've never seen 2 birds fight, in the water on top of it). Then back up arrives, then more and more.

Amazing that the group flies in and then just before it ends you see another group of 7 or so floating in formation on the right. I've seen gangs of up to 30 (each side) fight each other. Just makes me wamt to learn more about their society. That's what's so great about taking time to be in nature. It makes you want to learn and by doing so, you GROW.