INTRODUCTION 



The existing literature on the identification of waterfowl describes 

 mainly their spring plumages. This is of little avail to the sportsman 

 who is afield mainly in the fall, and it hardly suffices for the ornithologist, 

 who is afield at all seasons. 



Early fall plumages in many ducks are confusingly similar, vary with 

 sex and age, and change with the fall moult. Hence it is often impossible 

 to identify a bird-in-hand, even after looking it up in a "bird book." 

 The existing books do not suffice. 



Mr. Kortright has sensed the need for a year-round waterfowl book 

 and has done a scholarly job of writing one. While he disclaims being an 

 ornithologist, I detect no lack of ornithological competence in what he 

 has written. I do find much useful and interesting subject matter which 

 most ornithologists omit: What does a given species weigh, and how does 

 weight vary? How does one distinguish a bird of the year from an old 

 bird? When do the moults occur? 



The best printed description often fails to clarify the distinctive 

 character of a species without the help of a competent artist. Mr. 

 Shortt's paintings, portraying all of the more important plumages of a 

 given species, in themselves justify the publication of this volume. His 

 drawings of diagnostic features will also clarify many a moot point. 



I particularly endorse Mr. Kortright's thesis that the sportsman of 

 the future must get his satisfactions by enlarging himself rather than by 

 enlarging his bag. The homebound sportsman unable to name the ducks 

 slung over his shoulder is an anachronism, a relic of that I-got-my-limit 

 era which nearly ruined the continent and its resources. Few sportsmen 

 have ever tried the sport of learning something about the game they pur- 

 sue, the wildlife they see, or the plants they tramp over. Why is this 

 species here? Whence does it come, where go? What limits its abun- 

 dance? What was its role in history? What are its prospects for sur- 

 vival? What peculiarities of habit and habitat comprise its "standard 

 of living"? To always seek but never quite achieve a "bag-limit" of 

 answers to such questions is the sport of the future. 



To my mind it is appropriate that this book should issue from the 

 pen of a Canadian. Canada is the birthplace of most waterfowl; this 

 book attests her growing activity in waterfowl research and conservation. 



ALDO LEOPOLD, 



Professor of Wildlife Management 

 University of Wisconsin 



