A male Barrow's goldeneye with the pointed white facial shield, second duck from the left, swims contently among a mixed flock of male and female common goldeneye at Cupids. Contributed photoThere has been a decent increase in the number and variety of ducks overwintering on the Avalon Peninsula in the last few decades.There are perhaps three main reasons.
Meanwhile, sightings of bufflehead from random locations around the Avalon Peninsula have increased significantly. Currently there are eight using Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John’s. Who saw that coming? How far is it going to go? Time will tell. Birds are always looking for openings in nature’s ways to exploit.
Tufted ducks are an Icelandic relative of the scaup. The wintering population of these special visitors remains steady at about 60 birds in the St. John’s area.There are two species of goldeneye duck. The common goldeneye is common and widespread. The Barrow’s goldeneye is much more localized and present in tiny numbers. West coast birders get their share every winter.
Among the dabbling ducks, it is the black ducks and mallards that have really exploded in numbers in the urbanized parts of the Avalon Peninsula and, for that matter, in other parts of the island. They may dabble in the saltwater shoals at low tide, but they depend largely on food handouts from us humanoids. Bird seed or duck feed is the best food we can offer them. A small amount of bread is okay.