Thats pretty cool!
I will say their range map is very out of day. BBWD are breeding along the whole Gulf coast and i believe Georgia and South Carolina.
Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998
"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "
I will say their range map is very out of day. BBWD are breeding along the whole Gulf coast and i believe Georgia and South Carolina.
Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998
"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "
Apr 6, 2021, 10:45 AM
(176 posts)
Apr 6, 2021, 10:45 AM
Post #4 of 12
Views: 324
We have a small pond and big field by our rec league ball fields. Yesterday, I saw strange looking bird flying while watching my sons game, next thing, another, two black bellied had flown up and perched in a pine tree..
Central Ga.
Central Ga.
Carl wrote:
Thats pretty cool! I will say their range map is very out of day. BBWD are breeding along the whole Gulf coast and i believe Georgia and South Carolina.
I'm not really familiar with these birds. Do they have a healthy population?
Healthy and steadily expanding.
They were normally only seen in south Florida and south Texas but then started moving north from both directions about 25 years ago.
New Orleans parks now have a huge populations.
About 15 years ago they started showing up & breeding in Alabama. Now just about every golf course pond in south Baldwin County has a breeding pair or two. And they are using nest boxes all over the lower Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.
And like noted, they've moved north into coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
The ones at the colder fringes of the range seem to move south in winter. Very few stuck around into duck season in Alabama and I never saw one while in the blind.
Here in FL, and in water climates, they are year round residents.
They seem to be oppurtunistic breeder, prefer nest boxes but will also nest in just about any sheltered area, even on the ground. Back in Alabama, one nested in a bucket under the boat shed at the Freshwater Fisheries office!
Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998
"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "
They were normally only seen in south Florida and south Texas but then started moving north from both directions about 25 years ago.
New Orleans parks now have a huge populations.
About 15 years ago they started showing up & breeding in Alabama. Now just about every golf course pond in south Baldwin County has a breeding pair or two. And they are using nest boxes all over the lower Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.
And like noted, they've moved north into coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
The ones at the colder fringes of the range seem to move south in winter. Very few stuck around into duck season in Alabama and I never saw one while in the blind.
Here in FL, and in water climates, they are year round residents.
They seem to be oppurtunistic breeder, prefer nest boxes but will also nest in just about any sheltered area, even on the ground. Back in Alabama, one nested in a bucket under the boat shed at the Freshwater Fisheries office!
Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998
"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "
My vote is very lost.
They are spreading north and are known to be wanderers!
Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998
"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "
They are spreading north and are known to be wanderers!
Carl
Mobile, AL
DHBP Member since 1998
"Life is too short to drink bad beer."
Disclaimer: This post and/or report is not a substantiation of or reflection on the true accuracy of the present surveying methods. It is only a report on or comment concerning local observation and/or results. Your results and observation may vary based on your location, local water conditions, food supply, weather conditions and migratory patterns "
Apr 7, 2021, 7:26 AM
Sponsor (3072 posts)
Apr 7, 2021, 7:26 AM
Post #9 of 12
Views: 221
I'll have to look for it but somewhere I have a picture of black bellies standing sentry on old palm trees. On the east coast, they loooove old dead palm trees to roost in and in the evenings you can see them silhouetted standing sentry on the tops of the palm trees.
Carl wrote:
Healthy and steadily expanding. They were normally only seen in south Florida and south Texas but then started moving north from both directions about 25 years ago.
New Orleans parks now have a huge populations.
About 15 years ago they started showing up & breeding in Alabama. Now just about every golf course pond in south Baldwin County has a breeding pair or two. And they are using nest boxes all over the lower Mobile-Tensaw River Delta.
And like noted, they've moved north into coastal Georgia and South Carolina.
The ones at the colder fringes of the range seem to move south in winter. Very few stuck around into duck season in Alabama and I never saw one while in the blind.
Here in FL, and in water climates, they are year round residents.
They seem to be oppurtunistic breeder, prefer nest boxes but will also nest in just about any sheltered area, even on the ground. Back in Alabama, one nested in a bucket under the boat shed at the Freshwater Fisheries office!
Good to hear a success story! Birds every type are having a tough time these days.
Like George said....they must be lost. It will be interesting to see how they make out up North.
Dani wrote:
I'll have to look for it but somewhere I have a picture of black bellies standing sentry on old palm trees. On the east coast, they loooove old dead palm trees to roost in and in the evenings you can see them silhouetted standing sentry on the tops of the palm trees.Dani, If you find the picture post it up. I'd like to see it. They are cool looking birds.
Apr 9, 2021, 7:30 PM
(211 posts)
Apr 9, 2021, 7:30 PM
Post #12 of 12
Views: 102
First of all. Delicious! Good ducks to eat. We shoot a lot of them in S Florida. They're really geese if you asked me. BBs are very much like Canadas in their behavior. Of course they use nest boxes, hang out on roofs, etc. So that's not like Canadas but they will find conditions suitable and begin living there. I've had people send me pics of them in NJ, and Michigan.
Somebody here posted some in a Kansas feed lot a year or two ago also.
Wandering vagrant or escapee are both good guesses. My .02 cents.
Somebody here posted some in a Kansas feed lot a year or two ago also.
Wandering vagrant or escapee are both good guesses. My .02 cents.