RealDuckTails's profile picture. 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

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

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


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


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?

RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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?

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?

RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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?

#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?

RealDuckTails's tweet image. #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?

#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!

RealDuckTails's tweet image. #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!

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!

RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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!

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

RealDuckTails's tweet image. What the #hen see versus what we see on our #nestcams!
RealDuckTails's tweet image. What the #hen see versus what we see on our #nestcams!

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.

RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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.
RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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.
RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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.

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

RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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

#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.

RealDuckTails's tweet image. #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.

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

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

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

RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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

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

RealDuckTails's tweet image. Take-off! After all the storms this week we finally got the chance to take to the skies and continue #droneresearch! #birdsarentreal

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

RealDuckTails's tweet image. Can you find the Wilson’s Phalarope #nest in this picture?
RealDuckTails's tweet image. Can you find the Wilson’s Phalarope #nest in this picture?

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!


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

RealDuckTails's tweet image. 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

Loading...

Something went wrong.


Something went wrong.