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Black-bellied Whistling Ducks have reappeared in Blaine County this spring. The colorful waterfowl are more common in warm climates like Mexico but are pushing north in increasing numbers. (Photo by Terry McGraw)
WATONGA – Many Watongans have taken notice in recent weeks as the expanding range of a warm-weather bird has brought many to Blaine County for the season.
The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is easily spotted for its pink bill, noisy call and pitch-black undercarriage. The ducks have appeared on electrical wires, in trees and on streets in and around Watonga, and were even mentioned at the county commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, May 31.
County Clerk Jennifer Haigler said several have made themselves at home in a tree near the county courthouse. Treasurer Donna Hoskins said the ducks have been appearing annually in Blaine County for the past several years.
According to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are commonly found year-round in coastal Mexico, Central America and much of South America, especially Brazil. They’re also spotted often in southern states like Texas, Louisiana and Arizona.
Flocks farther north are not as common, but the bird’s range is expanding and several are now enjoying summertime in Watonga.
The National Audubon Society describes the ducks as a “spectacularly marked, sociable, noisy waterfowl” that often “rests on low snags above water, and may perch high in dead trees.”
The ducks usually nest in tree cavities, as near the courthouse, or broken-off stubs above the ground or water.
Though Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are not generally migratory, they do head south for the winter at the far northern reaches of their habitat. Still, Watonga residents can spot and enjoy this colorful bird for the season, and hopefully for many years to come.
And for those wondering, duck hunting season in Oklahoma runs from November to January each year.