In 2023, we were contacted by Kelly VanBeek, Midwest Grassland and Native Seed Strategy Coordinator with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who was working on a Common Grackle research project.
Bird beaks come in all shapes and sizes, and through observing those differences we can learn a lot about them. It gets really interesting when we take a closer look at beaks that are different in a more subtle way.
The familiar Gadwall (Mareca strepera), a widespread dabbing duck, is a common spring and fall migrant in Wisconsin. Gadwalls are also occasional winter residents in the southeastern part of the state.