BIRDS OF NANTUCKET
BIRDS OF THE ALEUTIANS - AND NANTUCKET
by Kenneth Turner Blackshaw
As you are reading this I am on a bird watching trip that stretches from Anchorage, Alaska, through the Aleutians, and out to Attu Island which is so far to the west it's actually "east." The international dateline makes a strange jog to the west just to keep us on the same day. To add to the confusion, Attu is at 173 degrees EAST Longitude, but is still considered the WESTERN-MOST point in the U.S. So this week and next we are looking at two bird species that share this spot with Nantucket, thousands of miles apart.

White-winged Scoter

Our bird is a big, heavy 'sea' duck abundant on Nantucket Sound in the winter and is just now arriving from the north. It is a traditional favorite with duck hunters who know it as the "bell coot" because of the interesting ringing noise its wing feathers sometimes make in flight. The common name by which we know it is the White-winged Scoter, Melanitta fusca, "a black duck." In Europe and Asia this same species is called the "Velvet" Scoter, a different species until a few years ago when it was "lumped" in with the White-winged.

This duck measures the same size as a Mallard but appears larger because of its chunkiness and dark color. The white patch on the trailing edge of the wing is conspicuous in flight in both the drakes and hens but is often concealed when resting. The males are jet black with a white teardrop at the eye, while the females are browner.

They are just now returning from their nesting homes that range from northern Quebec all the way to Alaska. Nantucket's winter population, interestingly enough, comes from both locations. In early May it must be confusing as some birds fly off to the west, overland, traveling across the Great Lakes towards central Canada and Alaska, while a much smaller number proceed north through Labrador. There they build a simple nest, often just a depression under a rose bush and lay from nine to 14 eggs. The ducks conceal the eggs under leaves as they depart the nest, making them almost impossible to find.

Except for the nesting season, scoters are almost totally addicted to salt water, so when they arrive here we look for them around our island's shores. Scoters are a common sight here. There are three species often found in the same area. Along with the White-winged there are Surf Scoters, also known as "Skunkheads," that have big splotches of white on their heads and Black Scoters that have no white on them at all. The females of all three species are browner and can be tricky to separate. At least the White-wings reveal a white wing patch in flight.

Since they live in fairly deep water it comes as no surprise that these birds dive for their food. Intuitively you would guess they are fish eaters, but that's incorrect. Most of their diet is mussels and other shellfish that they swallow whole and then either grind up or dissolve internally. What a potent digestive system!

Sea ducks, which include scoters, eiders, and long-tailed ducks, have always been favorites of sportsmen despite their rather poor reputation for flavor. I was amazed as I researched this article how much I read about the joys of getting up in total darkness, rowing boats out into the bay in the chill October winds, and then waiting for enough light to be able to see scoters flocking past. The comment is that 15 or 20 birds are considered a good day's "sport," although current bag limits are lower. Sea duck hunting season runs from early October through the end of January, much longer than that for other ducks. Nature lovers are often appalled to find that although shooting goes on, there seems little enthusiasm for actually retrieving the birds. 'Sport' is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

Nevertheless, sea duck numbers never seem to suffer. Winter voyages across Nantucket Sound

provide wonderful opportunities to see and hear

White-winged Scoters doing their thing. Often they are gorged with food and find it difficult to take off. If there is no wind, they must dive to avoid our steamers. With the new "fast" ferries, some of them aren't quick enough.

When they do take off, you hear the wonderful sound of air rushing through the heavy wing feathers, sometimes with a whistle, sometimes with the bell-like sound that gives 'bell coots' their nickname. Birders love to be out on deck during crossings to enjoy this spectacle. It's free and a wonderful part of island life-on Nantucket

and also in the Aleutians. I

George C. West creates illustrations for these articles. If you enjoy 'social' birding, join the Nantucket Bird Club at 8 a.m. Sundays in front of Nantucket High School for a two to three hour birding trip. Call 228-1693 for more information.

To hear about rare birds, or to leave a bird report call the Massachusetts Audubon hot line at 888-224-6444, option 4.

Ask Ken a question at: kenandcindy@copper.net