By Martin E. Comas
For the past month or so, residents at Lake County’s Deer Island have enjoyed watching some new visitors swimming in their neighborhood’s lake: A paddling of black-bellied whistling ducks.
“It’s exciting,” said Mary Anne DeHarde. “I can’t imagine how they found us, or why they like staying here.”
DeHarde and other residents first noticed the two dozen birds in August. The ducks have long red bills. Their bellies and tails are black. While the back of their necks and caps are a rich chestnut brown. But their unique characteristic is they generally “whistle” while flying away in a flock.
“When they take off, you would think they were birds by their sound,” DeHarde said.
DeHarde became curious, so she Googled the bird’s appearance and discovered they were black-bellied whistling ducks.
Although the ducks favor warmer climates, Florida is typically not home to the species. It usually can be found in Texas, Arizona, Louisiana and Central and South America.
Deer Island residents also noticed that the ducks are caring for new hatchlings. DeHarde figures that once the younger birds grow older, the ducks will fly away for good.
Videography by Tom Benitez.
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