Here on Long Lake, more or less in the Lacey city limits, I can watch birds
casually as I work--a great pleasure. Today I again see a phenomenon I've
noted before: a fairly large mixed flock of American Wigeons and
Ring-necked Ducks feeding together. I find this very interesting, and I
wonder if others have pondered why the two species associate regularly.
Although they eat similar food (vegetation plus aquatic invertebrates,
according to the Ehrlich et al. Birder's Handbook), one is a dabbler and the
other a diver. So what is it about the food supply, or their choices of
food, that make it attractive for one to dabble in the same spot where the
other is diving?

Burt Guttman guttmanb at evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College
Olympia, WA 98505 360-456-8447
Home: 7334 Holmes Island Road S.E., Olympia 98503