 Those of us fortunate enough to live in the Banderas Bay area have surely run into someone who had discovered ducklings or found them in a hotel, garden or golf course. Many people working in hotels wonder where these ducklings came from and how they got there. Between ten and 18 little gifts of nature running everywhere and after anyone, and it is even more intriguing when you learn the secret of these mysterious hatchlings…
Black Bellied Whistling Ducks
An extremely common species in the Banderas Bahia area, the Black-Bellied Whistling duck is also known in Spanish as “Pijiji Aliblanco”, “Pato Pijije Aliblano”, “Pichichi” and “Pato Maizal”. A Native species of The Americas, it is found in tropical or semi-tropical areas, from the south of the United States to northern Chile – including the Caribbean Sea-, and is related to enormous geese and swans.
Discovered in 1758, these ducks are known to be very noisy while flying, constantly issuing their characteristic whistling sounds to keep in contact with their counterparts, giving them a sense of security. They usually feed and fly at night and can travel great distances. On any night, take a moment to look outdoors and while you may not see them, but you will surely hear their unmistakable whistles in the distance.
In addition to their habit of whistling, they are easily recognizable with a body very different from most ducks, much more elongated, with long pink legs, a long neck ending in a long red beak; its brown and black plumage with a grey head and a white a ring around the eyes, weighing less than 1Kg and measured 50cm long.
 An Adaptable Social Bird
These birds are quite docile and prefer to congregate in large groups (flocks) and mate for life. A pair usually chooses a site to nest and then returns each year to the same site, sometimes choosing places as odd as palm trees in the middle of a resort or even a balcony garden or the high roof of a luxurious condominium. They prefer to nest in the vicinity of bodies of freshwater, and they can be observed resting anywhere from luxurious golf courses corn fields ready for planting. In fact, and as an example of its great adaptability, in some places in the interior of Mexico it is known as the "Corn Duck", given its well documented habits of feeding on maize and they are even capable of husking a cob of corn to get at its tender kernels. This nasty habit has led farmers to see them as a plague, and their great adaptability has created an even greater problem: man.
Para-troopers at Birth
Despite the infinite challenges that ALL animals face in co-existing, unfortunately and involuntarily, with man, and all the terrible consequences that entails, the incredible resistance which nature has given these ducks is admirable, because only one day after hatching, weighing just a few grams, they launch themselves, without fear, from their very high nests (located up to 15 meters in height), without suffering any damage as they literally bounce off the floor, immediately meeting up with its other young siblings.
Caring and Loyal Parents
After falling to the ground, the parents gather them up and guide them to the nearest body of water, taking care of them for up to six months. Both parents share the work of incubation and care for eggs and chicks, and when a predator is discovered, the male tries to distract the enemy while the mother and ducklings run for safety. During the night, the mother extends her wings until all 18 chicks are covered (if they fit), even looking for the safety of "heights" on the back of the mother.
What a scene from a dream it is to see the mother and her ducklings behind her; walking by in front the guests of a resort or in the gardens of a hotel. Unfortunately, every year in Vallarta, the parents are forced to abandon their young when they are discovered by the hotel staff. When the employees try to capture them, they discover they are quite slippery and skilful climbers, capable of climbing high walls with their small and sharp claws. In the end, they are handed over to naive new human stepparents, who usually discover that the goodwill is not enough when it comes to raising an elusive wild creature.
With all of nature’s wisdom, it is difficult to understand why the staff of hotels, condominiums and golf courses feel the need to try to deprive those adorable creatures of their freedom, under the false impression that they are rescuing them. Respect them and give these remarkable ducks space, especially at this time of year when they are nesting, during the coming months of the rainy season.
* Oscar Aranda is a biologist dedicated to the conservation of natural resources by means of the environmental awareness and is responsible for a program for the protection of sea turtles in Puerto Vallarta. If you would like more information, visit the following webpage: www.vallartanature.org |
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