THE BALDPATE DUCK 



[Anas americana.) 



The Baldpates or American Wid- feed chiefly upon insects, worms and 

 geons have an extensive range which small shells, and their flesh is much less 

 covers North America, while they breed delicate than it is when they are feeding 

 chiefly north of the United States, they on the wild celery of the Chesapeake 

 also nest in the Northern States of the Bay. They also visit the rice fields 

 interior, and casually southward to of the south during the winter, and in 

 Texas. They are not known to nest on some localities they appear in these fields 

 the Atlantic coast. They pass the win- in such large numbers that they are said 

 ter in large numbers in the Southern to do much damage. During the breed- 

 States, and from there southward to ing season, the Baldpates, unlike nearly 

 northern South America and Cuba, all of the other ducks, seem to prefer the 

 During their migrations in the spring vicinity of rivers and open lakes, 

 and fall, they frequent the rivers, and not the marshes, and lakes which are 

 marshes and lakes. In the fall they pro- more or less filled with grass. They also 

 long their journey southward in order to dififer from most ducks in their choice 

 feed upon the wild celery, sedges and of nesting sites. These are usually lo- 

 wild rice. At such times they are much cated some distance from water. Mr. 

 sought by sportsmen, for their flesh is Robert Kennicott reports that several 

 excellent and fully equal to that of the of the nests which he found in the vicin- 

 canvasback. They are very fond of wild ity of the Yukon River were fully a half 

 celery but not of diving for it. They mile from the river. The nests are near- 

 have learned to associate with the diving ly always upon high, dry ground and 

 ducks. This is well illustrated by their are simply depressions in the mass of 

 habits in the Chesapeake Bay region dried leaves, though they are well lined 

 where Baldpates winter in large num- with down. They are usually found un- 

 bers. Neltje Blanchan has so well ex- der trees, though they are not particular- 

 pressed this habit in her ''Game Birds," ly concealed. When the eggs are left 

 that we quote her words. "But when by the sitting bird they are well covered 

 living an undisturbed life, the Wid- by her with the lining down. In his 

 geons greatly prefer that other ducks, "Report upon the Natural History Col- 

 notably the canvasbacks, should do their lections Made in Alaska in the Years 

 diving for them. Around the Chesa- 1877-1881," Mr. E. W. Nelson gives an 

 peake, where great flocks of wild ducks interesting note regarding the habits of 

 congregate to feed on the wild celery, the female Baldpate when brooding her 

 the Widgeons show a not disinterested young. He says : 'T once came suddenly 

 sociability, for they kindly permit their upon a female Widgeon with her brood 

 friends to make the plunge down to the of ten or a dozen little ducklings, in a 

 celery beds, loosen the tender roots, and small pond. As I approached, the par- 

 bring a succulent dinner to the surface : ent uttered several low gutteral notes 

 then rob them immediately on their re- and suddenly fluttered across the water 

 appearance." But the Baldpates receive and fell heavily at my feet, so close that 

 their punishment for using a stolen food. I could almost touch her with my gun. 

 Their flesh assumes a fine flavor, and is Meanwhile the young swam to the oppo- 

 considered far superior by many to that site side of the pond and began to 

 of the famous canvasback. In their scramble out into the grass. Willing 

 summer homes, however, the Baldpates to observe the old bird's maneuvers, I 



