Ducks

HAGERSTOWN -- Life is quite daffy in parts of Hagerstown these days.Some people are calling themselves (and maybe others) "quacks." Secretaries joke about city officials "ducking" out of the office when ruffled constituents call. And schoolchildren are hollering, er, "fowl," sending angry letters and petitions to the City Council.This quackmire (sorry) stems from efforts to control the burgeoning population of mallards and other ducks, as well as Canada and domesticated geese at two man-made lakes at Hagerstown's picturesque and popular City Park.

Duck hunting seasons are several months off, but waterfowl experts are predicting the fall flight south might be the largest in more than 50 years.Waterfowl biologists are basing their estimates on breeding ground surveys that show conditions in the northern prairie states and Canada have been prime this summer with abundant habitat and continuing precipitation.According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service figures, the annual survey estimated 43.8 million ducks, the highest number since the survey began in 1955.

Some steal into neighborhood parks under cover of darkness, seeking to dispose of unwanted waterfowl. Others brazenly do the deed in the light of day.Call them duck dumpers."

With charging tanks and booming artillery, you would think that ducks would want a quieter place to park their tails than Aberdeen Proving Ground.But the U.S. Army believes otherwise, and that's why it has constructed three ponds for ducks at the proving ground.The ponds are a part of a new international initiative to increase the population of the fine, feathered friends at the proving ground.The program, called the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, combines private and public sectors of the United States, Canada and Mexico to protect the continent's duck population.

In an unusual criminal case involving the popular Chesapeake Bay art form of wildfowl carving, federal prosecutors filed a felony charge yesterday against a nationally known Perry Hall taxidermist accused of trading illegally in stuffed ducks and other waterfowl.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigators say greed motivated Michael G. Dison to flout wildlife-protection laws in the sale of thousands of dollars worth of illegal mounted ducks and other waterfowl, including strictly protected loons and swans.

In one continuous, seemingly effortless motion, Norm Haddaway brought his 10-gauge pump action shotgun to his shoulder, swung the barrel on a fast departing whitewing scoter and fired. The duck fell to the surface of the Choptank River."See, all you have to do is put the front bead on the duck's bill, pull the trigger and keep the gun swinging," he instructed.Sykesville's Kermit Henning, Taneytown area waterfowl buff Tim Flannery, Tom Elliott and I had been blasting holes into the rain-laden sky throughout the morning and we were still far short of our combined 20-duck daily bag limit.

Looking at the realistic duck he had spent weeks carving, burning and detailing, Vic Fortwengler marveled at what his hands had done."You work everyday to retire," the 65-year-old Annapolis resident said, "and think you have no creative talent at all."Fortwengler and 24 other students are into the eighth week of their advanced wood-carving class at the Arnold Senior Center. The class, sponsored by Anne Arundel Community College, devotes 10 weeks to cutting and detailing wood ducks and birds.

After reading "The Story About Ping," look at the pictures of the ducks. Count aloud together: first, second, third, fourth, fifth. Ask, "Which duck is last?"Discuss what it means to be last. When is it bad to be last? For example: waiting in line to get ice cream; the last one into class. Are there times when it might be good to be last?See if your child can recognize and read the numbers mentioned in the story1 2 3 11 7 42Ask if she remembers, "How many sisters did Ping have?" (two)How many brothers?

Maryland's Mid-Winter Waterfowl Inventory, an aerial survey taken between Jan. 3 and 13, showed a significant increase in ducks and snow geese and a small drop in Canada geese, according to statistics released last week by the Department of Natural Resources.The total number of waterfowl increased from 549,800 in 1994 to 651,300 this winter. Canada goose numbers were 259,200 compared to 260,300 last year.In the Canada goose hunting season, said Larry Hindman, waterfowl project manager, preliminary information suggests that adult birds dominated the kill again.

QUANTICO, Md. -- Red-winged blackbirds moved quickly, close to the top of the marsh edge along Rewastico Creek in Wicomico County. Turkey vultures rode the wind currents above the blackbirds, and higher still small flights of geese noisily made their way south.From across the creek and beyond perhaps a half-mile of thick marsh, gunfire rumbled through the morning, heavily punctuated the boom of what was either an artillery piece or a 10-gauge shotgun.But all was quiet on the northern marsh front.