Urban species #005: Northern Pintail

[urbpan]

urban species #005: Northern Pintail Anas acuta

Over 200 migratory bird species are known to spend at least some time in Boston, and a similar number can be cited for any city that lays along a migration route, and has the good fortune of containing decent habitat. Bodies of water in northern cities are less likely to freeze in the wintertime, due to the bubble of asphalt and air pollution that envelop a typical urban area. For migratory ducks, urban ponds are welcome way stations.

This is the first pair of Northern Pintails I have seen, but the pond they float on (Leverett Pond, a widening of the Muddy River) hosts dozens of migratory bird species--ducks in winter and songbirds in spring and summer--that will no doubt appear on this list as the year continues.

Pintails are widespread but uncommon throughout their range. This wasn't always so; up until the middle of the nineteenth century they were considered common, but they were hunted into relative scarcity.

Photos by cottonmanifesto

Comments

[shellizzle.livejournal.com]

This is really random, but what states can you find Moose?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Here's a world range map:http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Alces_alces.html
I think that map is a little too conservative. They're spreading south--we occasionally have them in Massachusetts.

But to answer your question, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Utah, and especially Alaska.

[rwblackbird.livejournal.com]

I am excited for the inevitable grackle, rockdove, and house sparrow posts. You will have me reading all year hoping for one of my three favourite little invasive urban necessities.

So that's what they are!

[morbidloren.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for doing this. I can't wait to read this every day. I hope you're planning on pulling all the entries together eventually. What a wonderful resource!

Re: So that's what they are!

[rwblackbird.livejournal.com]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/urbpan/tag/365+urban+species

Re: So that's what they are!

[morbidloren.livejournal.com]

Thank you. But I meant an encyclopedia that people who aren't LJ junkies like me could cart around with them on their urban hikes -- seems like such a great idea for a book.

Re: So that's what they are!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

When I started making my zine six years ago, that was exactly my intention: a comprehensive field guide to urban wildlife. Since then I've added other content, but the field guide idea has never completely left.

Re: So that's what they are!

[rwblackbird.livejournal.com]

or a daily calender.

wake up every day to a new species.