1. Intro To Waterfowl Education
Winneconne High School
AgriScience Department
Wildlife, Fish and Forestry Management

2. Real Life Situations

3. Objectives Learn Identifying Characteristics of various species
Explore current issues in Waterfowl Management
Research current waterfowl hunting and viewing techniques

4. Waterfowl
Includes…ducks, geese, loons, grebes, cranes, and other shore birds
Red Necked Grebe
Sandhill Crane

5. Identifying Characteristics
Habitat, Action, Color, Shape, Sound
What are the identifying characteristics for this animal?

6. Waterfowl Habitat Marshes Small Potholes Deep bodies of water Stubble
Swathed grain fields

7. The Action Attraction Wing Beats Flocking Behavior Long Lines
Shifting vs. Waving Lines
Small Bunches
Ground Behavior

8. Which behaviors are they looking for?

9. Shape, Size, and Color Large or Small Head Broad or narrow bills
Fat or slender bodies
Long or short tails
A Rainbow of Colors
exists

10. Listen Up!
Sound of wings
Sound of ‘quack’
Squeal
Whistle
Other noises

11. Feathers and Down
Most adult ducks shed their body feathers twice a year
Most drakes lose their bright plumage after mating
Eclipse Plumage, hen-like appearance

12. Winged Feathers Winged feathers are usually shed once a year
Wing colors are always the same and the most reliable feature for identifying a duck

13. Eclipse Plumage
Drake Spring plumage
Hen
Drake full eclipse
* Most ducks shed their body feathers twice each year. Nearly all ducks lose their bright plumage after mating and for a few weeks resemble the females. This hen-like appearance is called the eclipse plumage. The return of breeding coloration varies in species and individuals of each species.
* Wing feathers are shed only once a year. Wing colors are always the same.
Drakes emerging
from eclipse
Drake Fall plumage

14. A Goose that can fly…