An import from Asia is drawing birders from across the country to a Colusa County.
A male falcated duck, a bird common to China where flocks have been heavily hunted, was first spotted at the Colusa Wildlife Refuge on Dec. 8. Since then, its fame has spread.
The bird has been seen right from the viewing platform at the refuge, off Highway 20, about 70 miles north of Sacramento. The refuge is one of several that make up the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The Colusa Refuge supports wintering populations of more than 200,000 ducks and 50,000 geese. The Falcated duck can be seen swimming at the refuge in a Youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i30vb-higQQ.
But many interested birders have been making their way to see the handsome duck in person.
"We have had people fly in from Florida and Canada," said Brandee Bethard, a Chico State intern helping to direct people to the famous duck. "It is very rare here."
The duck seems perfectly happy paddling among mallards, pintails and geese. The ducks have feathers give it a mane and plumage with green and bronze iridescence.
According to www.birdlife.org, there are an estimated 89,000 falcated ducks, the majority spending the non-breeding season in China. Smaller populations have been counted in Japan, North Korea and South Korea.
Some wintering birds are found in the Aleutian Islands. And the Peeps blog of the American Birding Association notes that one was spotted in Orange County in 1969 and Lassen County in 2002 and 2003.
Nobody knows if the bird at Colusa is a wayward duck from Asia or an escapee from a private collection or zoo. What is certain is that it is no ugly duckling.
"It is very beautiful," Bethard said.
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