Bufflehead
Buffleheads at the Pond
Ryan J. Bradshaw
I see a proud mother duck with eight downy young,
wowed by the work she has already done.
First, she found a woodpecker hole, the perfect nest,
that she lined with feathers from her own chest.
After laying eight eggs, she kept them safe and warm
- for a month - until her ducklings were born.
One day later, she urged them to take a great leap
- from their nest to the ground - perhaps ten feet.
She then led them to water, this beautiful pond,
where they dive and eat, watched over by mom.
I see that proud mother duck with eight downy young.
I worry about the changes to come;
the future she cannot protect them from.
Buffleheads most commonly nest in the excavated holes left over by Northern Flickers, a type of woodpecker. Flicker holes are perfectly sized for the small Bufflehead, but too tight for larger ducks that might compete for tree cavities. Buffleheads may also use nest boxes that are appropriately sized.
According to Audubon’s Survival by Degrees study, the Bufflehead is estimated to lose 43% of its current summer range in the not-too-distant future as average global temperatures rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Climate experts believe we will reach 1.5°C as soon as the early 2030s. If we allow global heating to progress at this rate, the Bufflehead could lose 53% of its current summer range as soon as 2050 (2°C), and 68% as soon as 2080 (3°C). Projections suggest this species could gain 20%-21% in new areas, but displaced birds may face new challenges and have varying degrees of success in nesting and rearing young.
Want to help? Visit the United Nations website for a list of actions that you can take!
Photograph courtesy of Nick Saunders
This project is supported by SK Arts
