File:Bird-lore (1916) (14753010024).jpg

Identifier: birdlore18nati (find matches)
Title: Bird-lore
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals
Subjects: Birds -- Periodicals Birds -- Conservation Periodicals
Publisher: New York, National Association of Audubon Societies
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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this title because of their habit of feeding inthe shallow backwaters of rivers, ponds, and lakes, and in marshes. The Bayand Sea Ducks, which constitute another subfamily, are usually found in deepwater, and frequently dive many yards for their food. If you slip up to a Shoveller while he is getting his breakfast, you willfind him dabbling in water usually but a few inches deep. Here he will skimthe surface, catching such insects and larvae as may happen to be floating by;and from the mud he will collect seeds and such edible animal-matter, ascrustaceans, and some mollusks. Sometimes the bird will tip up whilefeeding. In this way it can reach downward several inches, when only therear end of the body will remain in sight, the tail pointing directly upward.While thus engaged a flock of Spoonbills presents a most ludicrous appearance. Where suitable vegetable food is to be found, the Shoveller does not pass itby. In many favorite haunts there grows a little tuber known as the wild (S6)
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SHOVELLEROrder—Anseres Family—Anatid-« Genus—Spatula Species-clypeata National Association of Audubon Societies The Shoveller 57 potato, which is about the size of an onion set. Cut it open and the substancewithin the rind will be seen closely to resemble that of a potato. All river andpond Ducks are very fond of this wild food, and if any Shovellers areabout they are pretty sure to get their share. They are usually silent birdswhile feeding, but on their breeding-grounds may frequently be heard talkingamong themselves, their one favorite word being took, many times repeated. Shovellers feed mostly at night, especially in places where they are muchpursued by gunners. I have often seen dozens of flocks come from the marshesat sunrise and fly out to the open water, far from any place where a gunnermight hide. There, if the weather is fair and not too windy, they will oftenremain until the shades of night and the pangs of hunger again call them backto the tempting marshes. They do

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