Redhead ducks at Munson Pond

Redhead duck (rear) with three male and two female common goldeneye ducks.

I have written blogs on redhead ducks before (see my 2024 post), which also have better photos than what I managed to get today at Munson Pond.  However, one of the purposes of today's blog is to indicate that they are present there, certainly at the moment.  Whether they will stay for breeding is another matter.

I also saw a male wood duck and a female bufflehead, saw evidence of a mallard having been eaten by a bird of prey, and even got a photo of a shrew (albeit a dead one).  I also talked to two ladies who saw two turtles - the first ones of the year to emerge from their winter slumber.  

If you visit the pond, you will also notice where they have put up boundary fences for where the construction will be.  Evidently, they are going ahead with the construction, and anything short of lying down in front of bulldozers will not likely dissuade them.  

For what it's worth, the research I did regarding reducing turtle mortality from road traffic indicates that proper turtle barriers can improve their chances significantly, with an 80-90% decrease in mortality.  Since they are going through with the road, the city should look into putting up such barriers.

I will write another blog tomorrow on the wood duck I photographed today.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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