Nesting of the Gadwall 



By Gerard Alan Abbott 



The Gadwall is more southerly in its breeding range than most ducks of its 

 genus. Although they nest commonly in Alberta, Assiniboia and Manitoba, a large 

 percentage of Gadwalls breed south of the Canadian border. Near Los Angeles, 

 California, the Gadwell has been known to lay her eggs as early as the first of 

 April. 



Among the small lakes of North and South Dakota and Minnesota it is one 

 of the commonest of ducks during the nesting season. Northern Wisconsin and 

 Michigan are the summer homes of the Gadwall, but it becomes scarcer west of 

 the Mississippi River. In the above mentioned states this duck arrives from the 

 South in the latter part of March or in April. During the month of October it 

 departs from its breeding grounds, gradually wending its way southward as the 

 cold weather approaches. 



The Gadwall is usually a bird of the open country, such as the prairie regions 

 of the northwest. It nests at Shoal Lake and Lake Manitoba, Canada. About 

 Devils Lake, North Dakota, the Gadwall commences to lay her eggs about the 

 first of June, sometimes earlier, and fresh "sets'' are not uncommon up to the 

 first of July. 



The nest is placed near water, preferably on high ground, and generally con- 

 cealed by tall weeds or brush. The parent bird sometimes selects a tuft of grass 

 or clump of rushes in an open place, which would seem to offer very little protec- 

 tion were it not for the dull colored female who so closely harmonizes with her 

 surroundings that she allows herself to be almost stepped upon before leaving her 

 eggs. One writer refers to the Gadwall as sometimes nesting in trees, but I can 

 find no records that verify his statement. Let her leave the nest voluntarily and 

 so deftly will she conceal her eggs by covering them with down and grass that 

 even the trained eye of the naturalist is often baffled while searching for the hidden 

 treasures. 



The eggs average two and five-hundredths inches long by one and fifty-hun- 

 dredths inches wide and range from seven to twelve in number. Their color is 

 creamy buff, elliptical in shape and with a moderately polished surface. Gad- 

 wall's eggs have a richer, warmer hue than those of the baldpate with which they 

 are often confused, but those of the latter are a paler buff, approaching white. 



In certain localities where the Gadwall is known to breed, they show a 

 decided preference for islands in small lakes, or a slight elevation in a bayou or 

 lagoon. In such situations several nests of the Gadwall may be found within a 

 radius of a few rods and frequently the baldpates take up their abodes in close 

 proximity to their near relatives. 



Among the many wet depressions, pot-holes and ponds of North Dakota, few, 

 if any, appear complete without the characteristic muskrat houses. I have passed 

 such places on the hottest days of June and have seen the rat house literally cov- 



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