Date: 1/14/25 5:03 pm From: Alabama Storm Guy via groups.io <ladek123...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Red-crested Pochards at Lake 4 in Cummings Research Park, Huntsville, AL
My name is Kevin Lade by the way.
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> On Behalf Of Alabama Storm Guy via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 6:58 PM
To: <ALbirds...>
Subject: [ALbirds] Red-crested Pochards at Lake 4 in Cummings Research Park, Huntsville, AL
This marks the third winter in a row that I have observed Red-crested Pochards on this lake. They show up in winter when the other migratory waterfowl show up and they disappear when the migratory waterfowl depart for the year. I have reported them in the past and there was some speculation as to the origin of this European species. Speculation was that they may have been escapes from a Madison County waterfowl fanciers collection. However, this does not seem to line up to the timing of the sightings for me. They seem to be migrating. I have also seen different numbers of birds in different years. The first winter (2022-2023) it was 2 males and 1 female, last winter (2023 - 2024) I saw as many as 4 males and 2 females, and this winter so far it has been 3 males and 1 female. Are they migrating and reproducing? I don't know. I would think they are almost certainly escapes from an aviary, but it seems to me they are migratory at this point.
