This time of year, it’s not just the area forests and parks that are getting some returning birds.
The lakes are also seeing some colorful visitors, like the Wood Ducks I spotted in Orlando.
They included the very beautiful male drakes as well as interesting looking female hens – who I photographed for the first time.
Wood Ducks are listed by AllAboutBirds.org as year-round residents, but until last week I had not spotted any around here since the spring. I don’t know where they went, but I am glad they are back.
A pair of male and female Wood Ducks take a swim in an Orlando lake in October 2023.A Wood Duck drake swims along in an Orlando lake in October 2023. Their numbers have been rising since a dramatic decline in the 19th Century due to overhunting.The Wood Duck hen, like this one at an Orlando lake in October 2023, is not as colorful as the drake but is still striking. The hens can lay 10-11 eggs per clutch. One of several Wood Ducks spotted in October 2023 at an Orlando lake. Wood Ducks aren’t territorial but will fight other males if they get too close to their mates, AllAboutBirds.org says.
With the temperature in the 70s, I was able to hike five miles across the Wetlands and photograph lots and lots of birds, including familiar ones and some new faces too.
It was typical 2024 Florida winter weather when I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Jan. 27. It was sunny, then cloudy, then rainy, then cloudy, then sunny, etc. Rinse and repeat, as they say.
