I am posting an e-mail I received from a friend...asking about this observation of ducks in a line...in Olympia......any speculations?

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Over the past few weeks we have twice observed behavior that we 're trying to understand and wonder if you or some of your contacts might have likely theories. The behavior features ducks (mostly scaups and (female) buffleheads, we think although the distances involved make this a bit uncertain) moving in a extended and, apparently coordinated, line across Capitol Lake. From SE to NW. Here's a photo showing the behavior: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myake/5242144651/in/set-72157625552788530/ -- I count ~275 dots/ducks in the line. After about 10 minutes the line broke up into little pods.


I really interested in finding out if others have observed similar behavior, and if so how it's been explained. .