Re: Northern Shovelers feeding in circling groups

The Everett waste treatment pond is a good place to see this Shoveler
behavior in action. They form large groups when feeding, then
occasionally break up and form a new group a few feet away. Someone I
asked about this suggested that they were attracted to the food stirred
up by one duck circling, and the groups grow that way. Kind of like
herding food? I'm curious about this too. Hope someone has the answer.

LeAnn Copas
Redmond, WA
leann at u.washington.edu