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Name: Why Ducks Do That: 40 Distinctive Waterfowl Behaviors Explained & Photographed: Petrie, Chuck: 9781595430502: Amazon.com: Books
Rating: 4.6 (37 reviews)

Chuck Petrie

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Why Ducks Do That: 40 Distinctive Waterfowl Behaviors Explained & Photographed Hardcover – January 1, 2006

by Chuck Petrie (Author)

4.6 37 ratings

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Why Ducks Do That answers many of the common, and some not-so-common, questions about the waterfowl species that share our world.

The insightful text of Chuck Petrie is paired with beautiful color photos by the nation's leading wildlife photographers, making this book a delightful read for anyone who ponders the life of birds.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The late Chuck Petrie was both a waterfowl biologist and popular writer who had worked for eleven years as executive editor of Ducks Unlimited magazine until his death in 2005.

His awards include Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Communicator of the Year and the prestigious Gordon MacQuarrie Foundation Award.

This is his third and final book with Willow Creek Press.

Willow Creek Press specializes in publishing high-quality books, calendars, prints and greeting cards. They are located in Minocqua, WI.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Willow Creek Pr (January 1, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 95 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1595430504
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1595430502
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 0.5 x 7.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,015,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,685 in Bird Watching (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 37 ratings

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White Raven

Must have duck book

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2012

Verified Purchase

This small but mighty book is formatted around questions about ducks. Each question is covered in a page to page and a half. Physiology, vocalization, mating and a number of other topics are covered in pity and knowledgeable answers. If only other authors could write so well! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in why ducks do what ducks do. The accompanying photos are lovely also. This book is well worth the price and should be on every ornithoholics bookshelf.

11 people found this helpful

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Twohandymaams

Just ducky

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2012

Verified Purchase

Wanted a book about ducks for my husband. We love to watch them on the lake and often wondered what certain behaviors were all about. This book provides great information and beautiful photos. Buy it!!

10 people found this helpful

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B. Shulman, Toronto

A must-have for duck lovers

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2011

Verified Purchase

I just love ducks and I photograph them as a hobby. This book answers questions and provides brilliant full-colour photographs that will help you identify new ducks that may wander your way. A keeper!

8 people found this helpful

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Treehugger

Beautiful photography with an interesting text; much on wild birds, one unresolved concern.

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2013

Verified Purchase

I am interested in observations on duck behavior because I raise a few ducks for eggs and entertainment. This book explains many wild species behaviors with insight. It is written in short articles with photos; it would make a good educational "coffee table" or "waiting room" book: my vet might want a copy. Some of the texts are redundant.

The mystery of duck navigation during migrations is discussed but remains unsolved.

From experience I know many ducks are really stupid (trying to walk through a chain link fence next to an open gate), but in the wild they do amazing things we can't explain.

The photography is particularly beautiful, showing many colorful and unusual species of wild ducks and duck-related birds I had never seen before. Photos and comments on species hybridization were new to me.

There is nothing, or very little, specifically about domestic duck behavior, the basis of my own observations.

The only point I question is "nest parasitization,"described as one duck laying her eggs in the nest of another duck, then leaving the eggs and chicks for the other female duck to raise, much as a "cookoo" does.

Seeking the reader's indulgence I explain my question here, either digressing from or expanding on the book. Nest parasitization likely occurs in the wild, but I daily see both my free-range Rouen ducks (a large flightless domestic mallard) and my free-range African geese (a large domestic goose, not from Africa) as communal nesters, a process in which two female birds lay eggs and alternate sitting on the same nest.

In African Geese, I have seen two female geese laying eggs and sitting on the same nest at the same time, side by side. It seems a very adaptive arrangement in protecting the nest, allowing one "mom" to take feeding and watering breaks without abandoning her eggs: Geese are extremely protective nesters. I have never seen this behavior documented anywhere, but it occurs under my shrubs right now: and at least three goslings with two mommas hatched today. This is not "nest parasitization," a better name would be "symbiotic nesting," "mutualistic nesting," or "communal nesting." The two hens are partners in the nest. The drakes, of course, could care less.

I would like to have seen more on "ducks in a row," which is how domestic ducks march or walk in groups:
it is really funny to watch.

Suggested reading:

Another worthwhile book addressing bird behavior is "King Solomon's Ring," by Conrad Lorentz. It's a classic, illustrated, entertaining, and highly readable. Some of Lorentz's other books are more challenging (his writing style is continental European, not British or American), but worth the effort.

See also my other reviews on duck books.

8 people found this helpful

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Gail

Duck secrets

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2014

Verified Purchase

book was a gift but I looked at it before sending. Pictures were excellent and information contained was interesting for the young reader

One person found this helpful

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Sandpiper

The pictures are beautiful, and the words are interesting

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2017

Verified Purchase

The pictures are beautiful, and the words are interesting. I really enjoyed this book, and have already read it several times. Sometimes I just look at the pictures.

One person found this helpful

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Riskay Business

Pamphlet, not book

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

I am a little torn, while the information itself is great. It's a pamphlet, not a book haha! The paper used is much thinner than standard paper as well. It was listed as a softcover and a spiral 'book' came in. I repeat, it's a pamphlet. I will probably end up pulling it apart and laminating the pages. It also was shipped where the backcover was stuck on a sticky part of the packaging, so that was fun to remove.