Muscovy Ducks at Cooley's Landing

Muscovy Ducks at Cooley’s landing- if ever there was an ugly duck this has to be what winner. the fledglings are rather cute but you can see where the males are already developing that stubbly red around their bills. The other thing I notices was the claws on their webbed feet, they use them to dig for grubs and make their nest. We have about 6 or 7 here at the landing and one nest.  These ducks don’t make any real discernible sounds. I have heard a low hiss barely audible from the large drake but little else. 

These ducks were introduced to Florida in urban parks around 1967 to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area – what were they thinking. The introduced populations are feral, and thrive because people feed them. One of the boat owners comes out in the evening tossing food to them. As with any population of bird their leavings are everywhere and you need to wash the dock and walk in front of your slip every day. This is a big duck, but not the least bit intimating, they watch people but don’t scoot out of their way or make a fuss. It is reported that they eat a ton of bugs, and I have to admit I haven’t been bothered by flies or misquotes since we arrive.

All in all we tolerate each other; it would be exciting if the eggs hatched while we are here. I can only hope

Drake - seems to be the big daddy of the clan

Dad on guard duty

this one has a broken wing, but he holds his won with the ladies

you can see the claws on his feet

the feathers on the top of their heads frill up like a Mohawk,

yep you can guess what they are doing