Florida Duck

This is one of our little known species of waterfowl because its range is very limited and nowhere does it seem to be abundant. It closely resembles the common Black Duck of the northern states, practically the only difference being the absence of streaks on the neck and the fact that it is smaller. As far as known at present it is confined to Florida and the coast country of Louisiana. On the palmetto prairies of Hillsboro County, Florida, I discovered some one summer, swimming about with their young in the small sloughs and grassy ponds of the region. When pursued the female would flutter away with a great splashing and giving every evidence of a highly nervous state of mind. Meantime the young scampered for cover, propelling themselves forward at a most astonishing rate with bodies raised high out of the water. The male was in no case seen in company with his family. Another time I came upon several of them at Lake Flint and again at Lake Hicpochee in the Okechobee country. Here they were feeding in the shallow water in company with numerous Coots which abound in the region. They are great birds to dabble and seem thoroly to enjoy the sensation of muddying the waters. Frequently they quacked to each other but their notes seemed to me to be indistinguishable from the call of the Black Duck.

Along the Louisiana coast there exist extensive salt and brackish water marshes thru which wide creeks or bayous wind their serpentine way to the open sea. This is a haven for the myriads of Ducks and Geese which repair here to spend the winter. Upon the approach of Spring, however, they depart for their northern breeding grounds and the deserted marshes are left to the mosquitoes, the snakes and the alligators. And yet a few scattered birds tarry and brave the discomforts of the sweltering summer days. At this season if you quietly paddled a pirogue along the smaller bayous, there would be a chance of coming upon the rare, elusive FLORIDA DUCK and her brood and you might get a glimpse or even a quick photograph of them before they hurry into the marsh and disappear — (Pearson).