Wood Ducks Gathering Acorns
Wood Ducks gathering acorns
Roger L. Briggs
In late September of 1976, while netting Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) north of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, I had the opportunity to make a most unusual observation. Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were gathering acorns from a Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) in a flooded area. Under the tree, several Wood Ducks had congregated. The jays dropped many acorns whihc struck the water with a resounding "plop." A Wood Duck would swim to the site where the acorn struck the water. Without hesitation it tipped up for the acorn. If the bird failed to catch the acorn, it dived under the water, submerging out of sight. They never remained under the water very long--only about three seconds. Upon reappearing at the surface, the duck usually had an acorn.
Since I was hidden in a blind which was level with the water, I could not determine if all the ducks had learned how to dive for acorns. The hens appeared to be quicker than the drakes, both at swimming to the spot where the acorn had struck the water and at diving.
Later I checked the area under the tree. The water averaged one meter in depth, and visibility enabled one to distinguish a sinking acorn until it reached a depth of approximately 20 centimeters. I believe the ducks were catching the acorns before they had reached the bottom since the ducks reappeared so quickly at the surface. This is unusual, since Puddle Ducks normally do not dive to obtain food, only resorting to this tactic to escape danger. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the area did not appear to be interested in the falling acorns.
P.O. Box 151, Anacoco, LA 71403
