The canvasback’s common name derives from the very fine gray and white vermiculation on its back, which give the impression of the weave of threads in a piece of canvas. It's most conspicuous features are its dull red head, coupled with its long, sloping black bill. Each time I see this elegant duck with its aristocratic look, I see how it came by the name “King of Ducks”. I have seen large flocks of “Cans” coming straight at my decoy spread with their wings set for a landing. At this point, once they have set to land they come in no matter what; what a thrill, what a sight! Canvasbacks are diving ducks and not as easy to observe as the puddle ducks, as you have to get out on the big water where they live to readily observe them. Wild celery constitutes the main attraction as feed for this duck. Wild celery is also called eelgrass and this duck will dive as deep as 20 feet to pull up this plant, root and all. Now enter the "bald plate", which tries to steal from the canvasback the root it has brought up from the bottom hoping to get yet another free meal. Both ducks seem to manage under this system, although the canvasback does all the work. The drake canvasback has a proud look, as if to say it is royalty, casting a virile look that most men would like to identify with. These birds are powerful flyers and when they migrate south during the fall I can still remember seeing those high flocks winging in a “V” formation which seemed to signal the beginning of yet another season's end. Hopefully this sight will remain for all to see forever, “May they always fly”.