By 1812Blockhouse
On Thursday evening, March 19, birdwatchers and curious nature lovers will gather at Gorman Nature Center for a program with a simple question and a lot of possible answers: What’s up, duck?
The program, titled “What’s Up Duck!”, begins at 6:00 PM at the nature center, located at 2295 Lexington Avenue in Mansfield. From there, participants will travel to the nearby Clearfork Reservoir, one of the region’s best places to observe migrating and wintering waterfowl.
North-central Ohio sits along an important migratory corridor, and reservoirs like Clearfork often host a remarkable variety of ducks during late winter and early spring. The evening outing will give participants the chance to look closely at species that many people see only at a distance.
The Ducks You’re Most Likely to See
Some of the most familiar species belong to a group called dabbling ducks. These birds feed near the surface or in shallow water, often tipping forward with their tails in the air.
Species that may appear include:
- Mallard
- American Black Duck
- Gadwall
- American Wigeon
- Northern Pintail
- Green-winged Teal
- Blue-winged Teal
- Northern Shoveler
- Wood Duck
Mallards are the species most people recognize, with the male’s glossy green head and chestnut breast. Others, like the elegant Northern Pintail or the boldly patterned Northern Shoveler, reward careful observation with their distinctive shapes and colors.
Reservoir Specialists
Clearfork’s deeper water also attracts diving ducks, birds adapted to submerge completely as they search for food below the surface.
Possible sightings include:
- Canvasback
- Redhead
- Ring-necked Duck
- Greater Scaup
- Lesser Scaup
- Surf Scoter
- White-winged Scoter
- Black Scoter
- Long-tailed Duck
- Bufflehead
- Common Goldeneye
- Ruddy Duck
These species often gather in rafts on open water, and watching them dive and resurface can become an absorbing spectacle. The compact Bufflehead and the striking black-and-white Common Goldeneye are particularly memorable once you know what to look for.
The Fish Hunters
A third group that sometimes joins the mix are mergansers. Unlike most ducks, these birds specialize in catching fish, and their narrow, serrated bills are perfectly adapted for the task.
Three species may appear on the reservoir:
- Hooded Merganser
- Common Merganser
- Red-breasted Merganser
The Hooded Merganser is especially eye-catching. The male’s dramatic fan-shaped crest can suddenly flare open like a small black-and-white sail.
And Occasionally, a Surprise
Birdwatchers always keep one eye open for something unexpected. On rare occasions, unusual visitors have turned up in Ohio wetlands, including Eurasian Wigeon or Cinnamon Teal. Very rarely, even a stray Garganey from Europe or Asia has been recorded in the state. That unpredictability is part of what keeps birders returning to the water’s edge.
An Evening on the Water
Participants will meet at the nature center before heading to the reservoir, where the group may visit several observation points along the shoreline, including the picnic areas. The outing will last about one and a half to two hours. Spotting scopes are welcome if you have them, though they are not required. Restrooms may be available at picnic area #2.
For questions about the program, Gorman Nature Center can be reached at 419-884-3764.
Even for people who have driven past Clearfork Reservoir countless times, the evening offers a reminder that the water holds a quiet world of motion and migration. On any given spring evening, the question “What’s up, duck?” can have dozens of answers gliding across the surfa
Image by MountainDweller from Pixabay
