Not in Kansas Anymore

I started the day with meetings and talks at Louisiana State University, but during a midmorning break I was delighted to see this hen at a campus lake with 6 ducklings that are about 10 days old.

Muscovy Ducks – perhaps from releases – clearly nest in the states, but their stronghold is subtropical and tropical forested wetlands in the Americas from Mexico to Argentina.

In their native habitats they often perch and roost in trees and typically nest in tree cavities. Note that big tail that allows Muscovy Ducks to weave through the trees, though certainly not as gracefully as Wood Ducks that also have big square tails.

-Frank