Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks taking a long route to the pond

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck and chicks

June 28, 2019

Here's some news. Wildewood Springs feathered-residents almost ring our doorbells. Good morning!

So, early this morning I passed a pair of Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks with 3 chicks. Why hello, cutie pies. 

I stop and watch the pair walk the perimeter of a village, in and out of each unit, looking for the pond I suppose. Eventually, they turn at the corner of the building onto grass, a better chance of leading the fluffballs to water.

The chicks stay close to the adult's tail. This is a small family—I've photographed other Black-Bellied Whistlers with double the number of chicks.

At the same time of this special sighting, I passed gal pals Lesley and Marilyn on their morning walk. "Why are you over here?" The reason for that question—I usually see them at the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron nest. Then I point to the family. Shared delight is sweet!

I took their photograph to remember our smiles and the loveliness in a gathering of friendship and kinship.

Do not feed birds or wildlife

Black-bellied Whistling Ducklings 

Feeding birds or any wildlife in Wildewood is not allowed. When I lived in the midwest, I had several bird feeders. So I was surprised to hear that I could not have a bird feeder as a resident of Wildewood. 

Here is one reason - an animal becomes acclimated to humans in an adverse wildlife-human interaction and often depends upon the supplemental feeding to survive.

"Feeding wild animals is becoming a significant problem in Florida," said Gary Morse, public information officer for FWC's Southeast Region. 'When people feed wildlife, the animals become less wary of humans in general.'"

Another reason is that feeding disrupts migration cycles. For example, the educator at Wildlife, Inc. said in a presentation in Pineneedle Village, that if geese are fed and they miss their migration, they remain here. I counted 43 geese who should have headed north on the big pond this summer.

One individual feeding wildlife causes additional problems for an entire neighborhood. The spillage attracts other wildlife such as mice or rats and when that happens, some place poison bait boxes which poisons the birds eating the vermin. I've seen the effects of rat poison in a sick Barred Owl - it is a cruel death.

Some birds are specially protected in Florida. Like the Sandhill Cranes. 

We are so fortunate to live in a habitat rich with plantings and fish, one that supports the harmony of life cycles. Please help spread the word about not feeding birds in Wildewood, and encourage your neighbors to support the planting of Florida and wildlife friendly plants.