Photo: Ruddy Duck, Joseph Mahoney/Audubon Photography Awards
The Blue-billed Ruddy Duck Has Arrived in Northern Virginia
By Jessica Bigger
Towards the tail end of the Pleistocene-“Ice Age”-Woolly Mammoths, Saber- Toothed Tigers, Mastodons, and other megafauna began to die off; while many ducks, geese, and birds of prey began to flourish, including the Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis). The oldest fossil on record is 11,000 years old. Archeologists have discovered Ruddy Duck fossils in Oregon, California, Florida, Illinois and even in Virginia.
With its striking sky-blue bill, thick neck, large white cheek patch, and signature straight tail, you would think this remarkable duck came straight out of a cartoon. The Ruddy Duck’s cartoonish appearance makes it stand out in the field.
Even though Ruddy Ducks are quite fast, they’re clumsy fliers and are forced to dive to escape predators like the Red Fox, Red-tailed Hawk and Racoon. It takes a lot of effort for these stocky birds to gain lift. They must continually paddle their feet, while flapping their wings repeatedly to get airborne. It is almost impossible for these ducks to fly from land, making them sitting ducks for predators-no pun intended.
During the breeding season, females lay one of the largest eggs in relation to body size among other duck species. Males also become quite aggressive toward each other and other birds. Yet, they also get harassed by some birds like Horned Grebes, Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots. Grebes will sometimes attack Ruddy Ducks from under water, called “submarining.” So, needless to say, what goes around comes around.
Now that it’s starting to get cold here in Virginia, Ruddy Ducks have come back to winter in our freshwater wetlands, lakes and reservoirs. Near the coast they spent their time in brackish bays, coastal marshes and tidal estuaries. During the breeding season Ruddy Ducks tend to prefer a variety of insects, but in the winter, they’re mostly vegetarians. Their winter range is quite extensive, starting on the east coast and moving to the west coast. As the weather gets warmer and spring arrives, they move north to Canada to breed.
Although the population is currently stable, Audubon scientists predict that as the earth’s temperature increases the bird’s range will shift north to Canada. Populations in Mexico and in the southern U.S. will cease to exist. The biggest threats to this bird due to climate change are fires and spring heat waves which can harm nestlings.
The federal government and organizations like Ducks Unlimited have made efforts to improve waterfowl habitat. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Duck Stamp Act in 1934. Duck Hunters and many birders purchase a duck stamp each year which has contributed over $1.1 million dollars towards conservation efforts covering 6 million acres of waterfowl habitat. Jennifer Miller’s artist’s rendition of the Ruddy Duck was chosen for the 2015-2016 duck stamp.