g'day all,
I have just looked at H.(Harry) J.Frith's " Waterfowl in Australia" where 2
pages is
devoted to the feeding practices of the Freckled Duck.
He notes (p121-3) the FD up-ending and dabbling with (but not like) other ducks.
Observations were made of captive FDs.
He does note that the birds did not dabble in the mud ..."The bill has not yet
seen to
enter the mud itself, but is maintained immediately above it - a true
filtering, rather
than a dabbling, action "
He does not mention my observation of it throwing its head right back in a
"swallow the
pill " action.
Frith's 332 page book is an excellent reference work and often found in the 2nd
hand
bookshops.
My 1982 Australian Science Library edition was bought in "as new " condition
for $26
It even includes a plate illustrating the Downy Ducklings
His biography available at
http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P000426b.htm
Regards, Bob Forsyth, Mount Isa, NW Qld.
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
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