As editor of our curling club's newsletter, Duck Soup,
I introduced a feature called Duck of the Month. We are, afterall, the
Ardsley Ducks.
This dabbling duck has a long thin neck with a white patch at the base of the
head, much like the duck depicted in the Ardsley Curling Club emblem.
Buffleheads are small sea ducks that rock side-to-side as they fly.
They are common in coastal waters during winter and one can be found in Ardsley Trophy case.
A large, flightless waterbird that propels itself across the surface of the water
reminiscent of an old paddle steamer. Four steamer ducks weigh about the same as one curling stone.
A medium sized diving duck that can be easily identified by its rounded red head
(almost as round as a curling stone.) Although somewhat rare, a group of redheads were
regular visitors to our area this winter.
[Photo by John Salmon, Croton Point RR Station]
You'll want to draw the button while noticing the distinctive eye ring on the less colorful
female wood duck. Their call is a drawn-out, rising squeal, "do sweep, do sweep"
sounding like some of our curling skips.
This distinctive dabbling duck has an elongated, spoon-shaped bill with comblike projections
along its edges. They take a hard line against curlers who might use them for sweeping.
[Photo by John Salmon]
These small, compact ducks often hold their tails cocked upward and
beat their bills against the water hard enough to create a swirl of bubbles.
This should bring out maximum performance when skipping a curling game.
This shy but common duck is often found in mixed flocks with other puddle ducks
in our area. If you see one at the club posed with wings up as pictured -
it means STOP SWEEPING!
One of the rarest ducks in the Americas, the West Indian Whistling- Duck is almost as rare as an 8-ender!
[Photo by Lynn Salmon]
Found in open wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa, this dabbling duck is a generally
quiet species. But, its calls of SWEEP during the curling season, can be heard
all the way to Cape Cod.
[Photo by John Salmon]
These ducks have markings that resemble huge pale goggles around
their eyes. They spend most of the winter far out in the Bering Sea
coming ashore to breed on Arctic tundra in Western Alaska. They hang
out around pack ice at other times, looking to nd a pick-up curling game.
This dabbling duck from South Africa can be found in small groups
and prefers smaller bodies of water. This one is fanning the flames for Seth Altman's warrior dash.
This large solidly built duck derives from 15 birds hatched in China in 1872, 5 years after the GNCC was established. Nine survived the voyage to the US, 5 were subsequently eaten, and the remaining 4 birds became the foundation stock of the American Peking.
The Big Duck on Long Island was constructed in the 1930s as a retail
poultry store when there were about 90 duck farms in Suffolk
County. Today there are more curlers than duck farmers on Long Island.
The large bill on this dabbling duck helps the skip yell for sweeping
as his teammate glides out smoothly on one webbed foot.
[Photos by John Salmon]
This migratory bird normally winters on the Indian subcontinent, but
this year it's heading to South Korea to show off its golden plumage during the Olympics.
The smallest dabbling duck in north america relies on its fine sense of weight to always
draw the button. [Photo by John Salmon]
This dabbling duck is abundant over most of the northern
hemisphere. When it forgets to put on its curling gripper, it slips on
the ice just like Vinay at the pull-the-plug.
This diving duck prefers shallow ponds and wetlands. The ring around its neck is
challenging to see, like the scribed rings on a temporary curling sheet.
This sociable dabbling duck is mostly brown, but some claim that it
looks black when seen at a distance.
If you want to see a truly "black duck" visit Tony Smith's sculpture
at PepsiCo World Headquarters in Purchase, NY.
This big diving duck is the largest of its genus. Its name also racks up more
points than any other duck when played in Scrabble with a score of 23.
[Photo by John Salmon]
This perching duck, a native to East Asia, has been hanging out in Central Park this
winter hoping for a revival of curling when The Pond freezes.
[Photo by Lynn Salmon]
These dabbling ducks will steal food from flocks of diving ducks. Watch out
when you have hammer, as they'ss be trying to steal every end.
[Photo by John Salmon]
These dabbling ducks sport a green eye patch and a white head stripe. These ducks are
highly gregarious and always bring some pizzazz to the curling sheet.
This small sea duck takes its name from the character in Comedia dell'arte.
Characterized by his checkered costume, the harlequin is all set with his own curling costume.
[Photo by John Salmon]
These dabbling ducks typically form a monogamous mating pair. We
spotted a pair in the Galapagos getting ready to play mixed doubles.
[Photo by John Salmon]
These boisterous ducks like to perch in trees and really do have a whistle for
their call. The whistle is handy for the coach of this curling team, shown scoping
out the competition. [Photo by John Salmon]
These gregarious dabbling ducks are common in southern and eastern Africa.
When curling they always choose to play with the yellow rocks, even if it means
giving up the hammer. [Photo by Nathan O'Reilly]
The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek boukephalos, a reference to the
bulbous head shape - which look like ancient Greek curling stones.
[Photo by John Salmon]
These secretive ducks range widely in the American tropics. Their
built-in mask and solitary lifestyle make them experts at practicing
social distancing.
These sea ducks breed far to the North in Canada and Alaska, but are
common winter visitors in our neck of the woods. The distinctive
spot on the bill looks like the valve on an N95 mask, but he
wouldn't wear that at the club!
These sea ducks nest in the high Arctic during the summer, but prefer
to winter at the southern edge of the sea ice and can sometimes be
spotted near us. They are ready to skip at a moment's notice with a
super warm eider down jacket.
These diving ducks sit low in the water and fly at an angle with the head
higher than their feet. This pair is ready to take on Andrew Stopera
and his partner, Madison Bear, at the US Mixed Doubles National Championship
this summer. [Photo by John Salmon]
These dabbling ducks breed as far north as Canada's Yukon and Northwest Territories.
They're hoping to secure a berth in next year's Brier.
[Photo by John Salmon]
These ducks are common in lakes, ponds and estuaries in Japan. While
happy about the Tokyo summer Olympics, they are more excited about the
winter Olympics in Beijing where they can strut their curling expertise.
These common winter visitors can be found up and down the Hudson River.
This male and female pair arrived early to practice mixed doubles.
[Photo at Croton Gorge Unique Area, May 2021 by Lynn Salmon]
The only living member of its genus, this sea duck is one of the most vocal
of ducks, making them ideal curling skips. Rather than wearing fish shirts,
they can be found diving for small fish and other sea creatures.
[Photo at Croton Point, Jan 2018 by Kyle Bardwell]
This dabbling duck is a rare visitor to North America.
The species name is from Greek mythology - Odysseus's wife, Penelope, was rescued by a
duck after she was thrown into the ocean.
[Photo at Cape May Point State Park, Nov 2021 by Lynn Salmon]
These diving ducks got their name from feeding on scalp - the Scottish word for
clams, oysters, and mussels. When not eating, they enjoy the Scottish game of curling.
These sea ducks form large winter
flocks along both Atlantic and Pacific
coastlines. They may migrate
southward in search of happening
bonspiels like the Big Apple.
These dabbling ducks are typically
found along the Gulf of Mexico
Coast. This NY visitor, came up to
visit the pull-the-plug where it won
the pose-like-a-curling stone contest.
[Photo by Steve Rappaport]
Mergansers are our only ducks that specialize in eating fish.
They have a crest that can spread open like a fan.
[Photo at Central Park Reservoir by Lynn Salmon]
These diving ducks are found across South Africa and are considered a
sedentary species - meaning they don't migrate. But they enjoy trying
new locales for curling bonspiels!
[Photo by Barbara Mansell]
These African comb ducks are found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The males have a large black lump on the head.
Perhaps hit on the noggin one time too many by a curling stone.
[Pphoto by Debbie van Zyl]
These highly gregariuous dabbling ducks form large flocks in southern
and eastern Africa. They've been known to choose red rocks instead of
the hammer after winning the coin flip.
[Photo by John Salmon from Serengeti NP, Aug 2016]
These dabbling ducks live in marshes and ponds and felt right at home as
temperatures rose in April. This pair is looking forward to playing doubles next fall.
These large, stocky sea ducks have a sloping forehead and a bulge at the base
of the bill. Perhaps hit in the head by an errant curling stone while foraging
among underwater rocks.
[Photo by John Salmon]
These diving ducks are solitary nesters with a sedentary lifestyle.
They are sociable and gregarious, thus love broomstacking after a curling game.
[Photo by Lynn Salmon]
A bird of the cold north with a warm reputation is famous for its down insulation
which keeps a lot of curling skips warm in their jackets.
[Photo by John Salmon from Iceland]
This duck found in southern waters of Argentina, Chile, and the
Falklands typically has a clutch of up
to 8 eggs. A perfect number to hatch a brood of curlers.
[Photo by John Salmon from Fin del Mundo]
This dabbling duck is a resident of
South Africa. Known for its large bill,
this bird prefers being called a Cape
Sweeper during curling season.
[Photo by Lynn Salmon from South Africa]
These small diving ducks were
spotted while curling in Iceland.
They each sport a stylish tassel of
feathers at the back of the head.
[Photo by John Salmon from Iceland]
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