BIRDWATCHING The gadwall is a ‘pirate extraordinaire!’

Published 6:43 am Thursday, April 6, 2017

Generally speaking, the gadwall is one our most common, widespread ducks, here on the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the Long Beach Peninsula it is considered uncommon. It is a bird of the wetlands and the Prairies. In our area it can be seen on bodies of shallow fresh water such as ponds, as well in our wetland areas. Occasionally it is observed in our sheltered saltwater bays.

It is not a nesting species of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, but has been known to nest in the nearby Julia Butler Hansen and the Lewis and Clark refuges. In our area it is known as an uncommon migrant. The gadwall nests on the ground near water as its breeding habitat. It generally chooses the upland areas nearby, most commonly on the Great Plains, the Canadian prairies or the tundra. The female gadwall chooses the site, which is usually in tall vegetation for the protection of her nest and the young. Its predators include, coyotes, gulls, Northern Harriers, foxes and weasels. Gadwall have increased since the 1980s. Due to the efforts of the Conservation Reserve Program and the National Waterfowl Management Plan.

Gadwalls feed primarily on aquatic vegetation such as algae, reeds, rushes, grasses, seeds and pondweed. They are dabblers so they rarely dive. They keep an eye out for divers though so they can snatch the vegetation they surface with. The gadwall are excellent pirates! One of their favorite targets is the American Coot.

The gadwall is a little smaller than the mallard. The female gadwall, in fact looks a lot like the female mallard, but has a small white triangle on her side and a smaller bill. The male is rather striking in his brown, gray and black attire. His signature piece is his black tail coverts. You could miss these ducks though because, while striking, when once seen they tend to appear subdued from a distance.

Try to find a gadwall before they leave the refuge for their breeding grounds. Check out Leadbetter Point, Tarlatt, Reikkola and Cape D. Keep your eyes wide open and find a gadwall today!