• Ask Mark
    • Search the Library
    • Mark’s Blog
    • eNewsletter / Subscribe
    • Books
    • Links
  • Cullen’s Foods
  • Trees For Life
  • Events
    • Gardening Communities
  • About Mark
    • Mark and Ben’s Bio
    • Book Mark as a Speaker
    • Mark in the Media
    • Contact Us
December 10, 2014

Clark and His Fowl Friends

A friend recently sent me this video of a mute swan sliding down an icy bank into the unfrozen pond to get a drink. I had a good chuckle. The swan seems to know it’s coming and approaches with caution. Just prior to this video being shot, the three other swans made their way in as well – not quite as gracefully and one almost landing on a duck as it flapped in the most uncoordinated way.

It got me thinking: you hear a lot about winter feeder birds but what about the waterfowl? Are there any that stick around through our (sometimes) hard Canadian winters? Other than Clark, of course.
clark

First, let’s define waterfowl: of the order Anseriformes; includes ducks, geese, and swans; are web-footed with a broad, flat bill.

The simple answer: not really. We’ve all seen the unmistakable V’s of the Canada goose flocks as they head south; ducks, and swans make the same trek. Of course, their treks are to different places and their paths will depend on where they started from; however, migratory corridors, or flyways as they are called, can be broken down into 4 broad categories.

waterfowlers-guide_flyways-map
1. The Pacific Flyway
The number of birds who use this westernmost flyway seems astonishing. I’ve read that at least a billion birds will use this flyway in a year. The coastal location of this flyway lends itself to being more of a hotspot for shore and seabirds although some ducks will use it: the Brant, Cackling Goose, and Spectacled Eider.
eider (2)

2. The Central Flyway
The physical features present in this region lend create welcome habitats for waterfowl. There are millions of small ponds, created during a glacial retreat, that have filled with water, providing food and breeding grounds for many birds. Migratory waterfowl over the Canadian Plains are plentiful and include the Hooded, Red-Breasted and Common Mergansers, Snow, Cackling, and Greater White-Fronted Geese, Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, and Harlequin, Goldeneye, and Bufflehead Ducks.
harlequin (2)
3. The Mississippi Flyway
This flyway includes Canada’s great lakes and is therefore a very important migratory area (40% of North American waterfowl spend their lives in this corridor). Of particular interest, where waterfowl are concerned, is the Mottled Duck which is listed on the Audubon Society Priority Bird List due to its declining numbers. The Mottled Duck was once the only bird that nested in the coastal marshes of Florida and the Gulf Coast. Today, its habitat is shared with the Mallard. Competition and cross-breeding between the two birds has resulted in the Mottled Duck population drop.
Mottled_Duck
4. The Atlantic Flyway
The most eastern flyway, the Atlantic Flyway is used by more than 500 bird species. Like the Pacific Flyway, this migratory area is heavily populated by shore and seabirds that spend their lives along the coast. Further inland, however, the St. Lawrence River is a popular breeding ground for many waterfowl species. The Ring-Necked Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Canvasback, and Ruddy Duck are all Atlantic Flyway dwellers.

ringneckedDuck1
The state of these flyways is constantly changing: with habitat destruction, pesticide use, and urban sprawl happening from the northern-most end of these corridors right through to their southern-most tips, it’s hard to imagine how these birds have managed to survive their long journeys. Thanks to groups like Bird Studies Canada, the Audubon Society, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, efforts are being made to conserve many of the important stopovers used by these birds during migration.

← Previous post
When History Meets Modernity

Next post →
Winter Composting

Search

Recent Posts

  • Signs of Spring March 27, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week February 2, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week January 11, 2021
  • Around the Acres This Week December 9, 2020

Mark’s Blog by Month

Ask Mark

  • eNewsletter
  • Radio/Podcast
  • Magazine article
  • Newspaper column
  • TV

Recent Tweets

Mark Cullen Follow

Best selling Canadian gardening author as seen on TV, radio, online and print.

MarkCullen4
2 Mar

Was a pleasure visiting with our #tree loving friends @TonyDiGiovanni1 and @MarkCullen4 today @vinelandrsrch!

Reply on Twitter 1631375315615318018 Retweet on Twitter 1631375315615318018 1 Like on Twitter 1631375315615318018 10 Twitter 1631375315615318018
19 Feb

Increase biodiversity in your yard with these tips from Mark and Ben Cullen. @MarkCullen4

http://ow.ly/u2sE50MVwTA

Reply on Twitter 1627294471200116736 Retweet on Twitter 1627294471200116736 1 Like on Twitter 1627294471200116736 4 Twitter 1627294471200116736
10 Feb

Excited to meet with Mark Cullen and Tony DiGiovanni today to learn more about the Trees for Life Program and how Less Mess can help!

Reply on Twitter 1624161096243240976 Retweet on Twitter 1624161096243240976 4 Like on Twitter 1624161096243240976 6 Twitter 1624161096243240976
12 Jan

This was a great way to start the new year. Congratulations, Landscape Ontario, on this milestone! Thanks to all who made it happen. We’re looking forward to the next one.

#TreesForLife #Congress #LOCongress #ClimateAction #GoGreen #HOHTC

Reply on Twitter 1613670790612017153 Retweet on Twitter 1613670790612017153 5 Like on Twitter 1613670790612017153 5 Twitter 1613670790612017153

Comments are closed.

About Mark and Ben


Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author & broadcaster and holds the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of Guelph and Dalhousie University.
More

Find Mark On

Sponsored Links

Highway of Heroes cullensfoods Share Agriculture Foundation Harrowsmith
© Mark Cullen. Go to top ↑