November is the month to observe a variety and abundance of dabbling and diving ducks in Colorado. There’s more to see than the ubiquitous mallard these days. So grab your bird guide, a good pair of binoculars, and some warm clothing and head to your nearest river or reservoir.
The vast majority of ducks that winter in Colorado are arriving from the north-central U.S. and southern Canada. Look for mergansers, diving ducks with long, slender, serrated bills and crested heads on rivers and reservoirs in the eastern portion of the state, in western valleys, and mountain parks. They winter here to dive for small or medium-sized fishes, their primary source of food. The male common merganser has a greenish-black head, black back, and a pinkish-white breast and underside; the red-breasted merganser drake has a crested, glossy-green head, white neck, red breast, and black upper surface with white margins. The females of both are very similar, with crested chestnut heads, white underside, and grey backs.
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Introduce Your Kids to a Lifelong Pursuit!
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The Beginning Birdwatcher’s Book by Sy Barlowe is an ideal introduction for kids to a hobby enjoyed by millions of people the world over. It provides information on and illustrations of 48 common birds and room to record sightings and observations!
Whether acting as scavengers, or controlling insect populations, birds are one of nature’s most wonderful creations. Just look at them! From the flickering, iridescent hummingbird to the soaring, majestic eagles, birds are marvels to behold!
There, perched on a branch, is a five-inch bird you haven’t seen before. It's identified as an American goldfinch by looking through the 48 birds pictured on the included stickers. By pasting the sticker of this 'newly-discovered' bird in its numbered space, and by adding some observations, this book becomes a permanent record of your kid's bird sightings. And the beginning of a "life-list"! Identifying birds not seen before—or ones seen every day but still 'unknown'—is a special kind of discovery and education.
And, with the holidays coming, the Beginning Birdwatching Book is a perfect gift for youngsters, and one that will keep on giving. Look for it in the Division of Wildlife's online store!