THE OSPREY. 



131 



MISSOURI RIVER DUCK NOTES, 

 r.y ISADOR S. TrosTLEr, Omaha, Neb. 



''I^HE following is compiled from field uotes 

 I which cover a period of twelve years" ob- 

 ■^ servation in the vicinity of Omaha. Ne- 

 braska. The dates given are earliest and latest 

 dates when the species were observed. 



Mall.\rd {Anns doscas). An abundant mi- 

 grant (and not nncomnion summer resident in 

 Nebraska). Arrives in spring Mar. i to April 

 20; departing southward .Sep. 20 to Nov. 10. In 

 very mild seasons numbers of these ducks are 

 seen on the Platte River flats in midwinter. 

 Many are killed along the Missouri, Niobrara, 

 Platte, Elkhorn and Blue rivers, and adjoining 

 lakes, sloughs and swamps. 



Black Duck (Anas obsaiia). A common mi- 

 grant, usually in company willi i'allards, arriv- 

 ing and departing about same time. Known to 

 sportsmen as Dusky Duck and Black Mallard. 



GadwAll (Chanlf/asDius s/repcnis). A com- 

 mon migrant, aud possibly a tare summer resi- 

 dent. Arrives Mar. 20 to April 20. Returns 

 southward in latter part of .September and Oc- 

 tober. 



I'lAl.DPATE {Mareca ainerirana). A common 

 migrant. Arrives in spring Mar. 16, and stays 

 to .April 20: and returning southward is found 

 from Sep. 15 to Nov. 10. Baldpates are not 

 usually seen in flocks, but are found with Mal- 

 lards, and in pairs or two's. They are ofteu 

 seen upon the prairies and in corn or wheat 

 fields in autumn, and are almost alw.iys in good 

 condition, ivnown to sportsmen as American 

 Widgeons, and killed in large numbers. 



Grken-winged Teal [Nettinm caro/iiiensc). 

 A common migrant. Mar. 20 to April 20, return- 

 ing in September and early October. Large 

 numbers are killed by local sportsmeu. 



Blue-winged Teal( Oiwrqiieduladisfois). An 

 abundant migrant and not uncommon summer 

 resident and breeder. Arrives about same time 

 as, or a little later than, the preceding species. 

 Breeds in latter part of June. I found sets of 7, 

 9 and II eggs, incubation advanced, in N. W. 

 Nebraska, June 22-30, 189,5 Returns south- 

 ward ill latter part of September aud early 

 October. Large numbers killed by sportsmen 

 and market hunters. 



Cinnamon Teal ( Querqucdula cvanoptcrd). A 

 somewhat rare migrant. Seen in company of 

 Blue-winged Teal during migrations. 



ShovEler \Spatula clypeaia). A common 

 migrant; a few remain to breed. March 15 to 

 April 10. Breeds June i to 20. Returns south- 

 ward in late September and October. Easily 

 decoyed and killed in large numbers. Known 

 to sportsmen as .Spoonbill. 



Pintail iDafila aciila). An abundant mi- 

 grant. This is the first Duck to arrive in spring, 

 usually coming in with the early rains and sleet 

 storms, Feb. 22 to Mar. 20; returning in fall Sep. 

 25 to Nov. I. Known to sportsmen as .Sprig- 

 tail. Easily decoyed and killed in immense 

 numbers for sport and the market. 



Wood Duck (^^.r spousal. A fairly common 

 niigrant and not rare at- a summer resident in 

 vicinity of timbered lakes and streams. Mar. 

 25 to A'pril 15, Breeds in June and is seen in 

 pairs and trios ail summer. Departs for south 

 Oct. I to 20; usually all gone before Oct. 15. 

 Known to sportsmen as Summer Duck. 



Redhead (.E/hyia americana\. An abund- 

 ant migrant in spring, but not nearly so common 

 in fall. Arrives(usually in large flocks' Mar. 12 

 to May 10. Latest seen October 12. A few Red- 

 heads probably breed in the northern part of 

 this State. 



CANVASB.\CK (.■Ethyia vaUisneria). An irreg- 

 ular migrant, being seen in abundance some 

 years and quite scarce in others. A few breed 

 in the northern part of this State. Arrives Feb. 

 24 to Apr. 20; breeds June i to 20, aud returns 

 southward in latter part of September and Oc- 

 tober. Killed in large numbers by sportsmen 

 and market hunters. 



American Scaup {Fu/is^n/a marilau A com- 

 mon migrant, following shortly after the Bald- 

 pates in spring, Mar. 20 to Apr. 20, returning in 

 fall Sept. 15 to Nov. 10: Known to sportsmen 

 as Blue-bill, and killed in large numbers. 



Lesser Scaup {Fulizula affinis). A common 

 migrant. Seen about the same lime as the [ire- 

 ceding species in spring and autumn. Known 

 as Lesser Blue-bill. 



Ring-necked Duck {Fn/iou/a col/aris). Not 

 uncommon as a migrant, arriving about same 

 as preceding species. Mar. 20 to Apr. 20 and 

 Sept. 15 to Nov. 10, but not so nunierons. 



American Golden- eye (Cla>!^<;u/a clangnla 

 americana]. Somewhat common as a migrant, 

 arriving Mar. 20 to May 15. I have never ob- 

 served this Duck in the autumnal flights, but 

 they probably return southward early. Known 

 to sportsmen as Whistler and Whistle-wings, 

 aud killed in considerable numbers on Missouri 

 River. 



Barrow's Golden-eye (Clan^jila islanaicd). 

 A somewhat rare migrant, arriving with and 

 seen in company of the American Golden-eye. 



BuFFlE-hEAd {C/;(?;-/fo«f/A7 alheola). A not un- 

 common migrant, arriving Mar. 15 to 30 and 

 Oct. I to 30. Known to sportsmen by many names, 

 such as Dumpy, Dumpling, Butterball, etc. 



Harlequin Duck (Histrimiicus hi str ionic wi). 

 This beautiful little Duck is a rare migrant. I 

 know of but three being killed in this vicinity, 

 viz: Two on the Missouri River Sept. 16, 1S93,' 

 and one Sept. 19, 1S95, at Florence Lake, near 

 Omaha. 



Ruddy Duck [Fristna/iira famaicL'nsis). An 

 irregular niigrant. This Duck' is the most irreg- 

 ular of all that occur in this vicinity. .Some 

 years they are abundant and in other years 

 none are seen. They arrive late. May i to 20, 

 and return Oct. i to 15. 



