Black Duck

By

Daniel F. Heuer

 

 

 

The black duck is considered the most intelligent, the wariest and the wildest of all the ducks.  There is currently an argument going on as to whether the black duck should be considered as a species separate from the mallard of merely as a subspecies.  Those who advocate subspecies status for the black duck point out the increasing hybridization of the mallard and the black duck.  My thoughts on this are simple.  The black duck is a much more timid duck during breeding season.  The mallard is much more aggressive with interbreeding, so simply put there are a lot more pure mallards and fewer black ducks.  It seems as if Mother Nature is stepping in the sorting out so to speak.  The black duck is a very strong and speedy bird in flight.  Being the most wariest of all ducks it seldom if ever drops to the water without first circling the area several times while it checks the area for anything that looks wrong.  This species of duck is the oldest living on record, with a certified age through a banding program of 19 years, which is incredible considering that most birds are killed during their first two seasons.  I have watched and seen plenty of these birds afield, and one thing is for certain, they are smart.  If all isn’t right in the blind they will not come near.  They are the smart ones, yet they are disappearing due to their being timid during breeding season.  Mother Nature seems to know what is going on so time and the future will tell as to their survival as a species.