Real Duck Tails

Student researchers from @myUND gathering data about ducks, their young and the wetlands that support them with help and support from @DucksUnlimited and @USGS.

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

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[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

As summer comes to an end, so does the heat! We are sure that this hen is thankful for the fall weather that is approaching. #DYK hens pant just like other animals to stay cool in the sun while laying in her nest.

#DucksUnlimited #ducknest #hen #fallweather #summerheat

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

#DYK hens will turn and move eggs within the nest to maintain close contact with the brood patch and to promote even heat distribution!

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

Here is our #species breakdown of nests located this summer! Our most common nest was #BWTE with a total of 172 nests! The second most common was #GADW with 40 nests!

Can you guess what bird species we found that would have fallen into the “other” category?

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

A true birds eye view!

#DYK that in recent years #drones have become an increasingly popular tool to survey and capture imagery of #wildlife and their landscapes?

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

#DYK that #grazing animals such as cattle prevent overgrowth of vegetation which encourages nutrient cycling to keep the vegetation productive and the soil and #wetlands healthy for #waterfowl and other native species?

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

#DYK that on average it takes at least 12 hours for a duck egg to #hatch and up to 48 hours once it starts #pipping? Pipping is a crucial stage in #development as it allows the #duckling to build up strength to eventually leave the nest and make the journey to a nearby #wetland!

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

Our nest #dragging season has come to an end! Despite the #drought conditions our Real Duck Tails team found a total of 295 #duck and #shorebird nests! Our most common species was #BWTE with estimated 166 nests!

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

What the #hen see versus what we see on our #nestcams!

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The Virginia Rail is a secretive marsh bird that commonly wanders along #marsh edges and in #reeds. They are easily detected by their call, but we were able to locate a #best during one of our #wetland surveys.

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

Do you know which #marsh bird these #eggs belong to? Check in the comments to find out!

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

UND #grassland technicians working on studying effects of high intensity short duration #grazing on grassland bird nests. They are candling #songbird eggs to monitor embryo development.

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

We want to say a huge thank you to the @undalumni and @und_admissions for sending our UND/Ducks Unlimited crew some new shirts and gear for out in the field!

#myund #undproud #undalumni #undbiology #undergraduateresearch

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

#ducks use small, shallow #wetlands early in spring. These Type I wetlands are the first to warm and therefore the first to produce #invertebrates on which birds can feed.

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

What is your go-to lunch during the #fieldseason? If you ask our Real Duck Tails team, #sandwiches and #granolabars are a must have!

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

We are at halfway point for #nestsearching this summer! Despite the #drought conditions we have a CURRENT TOTAL OF 177 NESTS!

#chaindragging #ducknests #grasslands #eggs

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

Take-off! After all the storms this week we finally got the chance to take to the skies and continue #droneresearch! #birdsarentreal

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

Can you find the Wilson’s Phalarope #nest in this picture?

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

When reviewing footage from last field season, we caught a unique #depredation event on camera! In this clip, a #deer can be seen eating a #duckegg!

[Real Duck Tails @RealDuckTails]

Our third week of nest searching is complete! We have found a total of 124 nests! Today we got to see this #killdeer nest with three #chicks and one hatching egg! #precocial #ducknest