The Flickr Mexicansquealer Image Generatr

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The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
The created Wakodahatchee Wetlands feature a three-quarter mile elevated, wood boardwalk with gazebos and benches along the way and which crosses between open water pond areas and islands with shrubs and snags to foster nesting and roosting. This site offers many opportunities to observe birds in their natural habitats, but during this time it is predominantly a home to a couple of hundred wood storks roosting/nesting on snags, with some within easy reach to even the smallest telephoto lenses. In addition to the wood storks, over 178 bird species have been identified there, along with turtles, alligators, rabbits, fish, frogs and raccoons. Of some note are the invasive and photogenic iguanas cohabitating with the storks. Each day, the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department’s Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility pumps approximately two million gallons of 90% treated water into the Wakodahatchee Wetlands. This water, which is free of organic contaminants but still contains excess minerals, is naturally purified by the plants and algae in the wetlands and then released into the surface water supply.
Additional information on Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks may be found on Wikipedia.
Additional information on the Wakodahatchee Wetlands may be found on Wikipedia.

Details best viewed in Original Size.

The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
The created Wakodahatchee Wetlands feature a three-quarter mile elevated, wood boardwalk with gazebos and benches along the way and which crosses between open water pond areas and islands with shrubs and snags to foster nesting and roosting. This site offers many opportunities to observe birds in their natural habitats, but during this time it is predominantly a home to a couple of hundred wood storks roosting/nesting on snags, with some within easy reach to even the smallest telephoto lenses. In addition to the wood storks, over 178 bird species have been identified there, along with turtles, alligators, rabbits, fish, frogs and raccoons. Of some note are the invasive and photogenic iguanas cohabitating with the storks. Each day, the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department’s Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility pumps approximately two million gallons of 90% treated water into the Wakodahatchee Wetlands. This water, which is free of organic contaminants but still contains excess minerals, is naturally purified by the plants and algae in the wetlands and then released into the surface water supply.
Additional information on Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks may be found on Wikipedia.
Additional information on the Wakodahatchee Wetlands may be found on Wikipedia.

Details best viewed in Original Size.

The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
The created Wakodahatchee Wetlands feature a three-quarter mile elevated, wood boardwalk with gazebos and benches along the way and which crosses between open water pond areas and islands with shrubs and snags to foster nesting and roosting. This site offers many opportunities to observe birds in their natural habitats, but during this time it is predominantly a home to a couple of hundred wood storks roosting/nesting on snags, with some within easy reach to even the smallest telephoto lenses. In addition to the wood storks, over 178 bird species have been identified there, along with turtles, alligators, rabbits, fish, frogs and raccoons. Of some note are the invasive and photogenic iguanas cohabitating with the storks. Each day, the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department’s Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility pumps approximately two million gallons of 90% treated water into the Wakodahatchee Wetlands. This water, which is free of organic contaminants but still contains excess minerals, is naturally purified by the plants and algae in the wetlands, and then released into the surface water supply.
Additional information on Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks may be found on Wikipedia.
Additional information on the Wakodahatchee Wetlands may be found on Wikipedia.

Details best viewed in Original Size.

My wife and I had come to The Orlando Wetlands Park last year (without Jan and Felicia), but there was considerable construction going on, with most of the trails blocked and most of birds were inaccessible. However, it was obvious from that visit that the place had considerable birding potential. This year Jan, Felicia, Angela and I were visiting the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and when we ran out of birds there, we took the short side trip to The Orlando Wetlands Park. The park still had some construction going on, but the new boardwalk and all the other trails were open, there were plenty birds and these were mostly different from those at Merritt Island.
The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

Details best viewed in Original Size.

My wife and I had come to The Orlando Wetlands Park last year (without Jan and Felicia), but there was considerable construction going on, with most of the trails blocked and most of birds were inaccessible. However, it was obvious from that visit that the place had considerable birding potential. This year Jan, Felicia, Angela and I were visiting the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and when we ran out of birds there, we took the short side trip to The Orlando Wetlands Park. The park still had some construction going on, but the new boardwalk and all the other trails were open, there were plenty birds and these were mostly different from those at Merritt Island.
The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

These ducks also go by the name Mexican Squealer and they sure are easy to hear right now in South Florida's wetlands.

You can hear what they sound like here:
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-bellied_Whistling-Duck/...

This was taken with the Fujifilm X-T2 using an adapted vintage lens The Nikkor 180m 2.8 ED AI-s @ 180mm, f2.8, 1/4000, ISO 200.

Thanks for your Faves & Comments!

DSCF5162

Details best viewed in Original Size.

My wife and I, in the company of Jan Nagalski and his wife Felicia, were visiting the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge when we learned from a fellow visitor to the refuge that she had seen a flock of Whistling Ducks at the nearby Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville and then gave us direction on how to get there. Neither Jan nor I had ever seen Whistling Ducks, not to mention photographed them. In addition, Jan's list of new birds to see during their trip to Florida included Whistling Ducks. Just a few minutes after arriving at the park Felicia had spotted the ducks and Jan and I gave chase. It was a small flock of about seven or eight individuals basking in the sun by the edge of one of the lakes. While avoiding the fire ant mounts, I shot over a hundred frames, but most of them are very similar to each other and I don't know how many I will keep.
The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

Best viewed in Original Size

My wife and I, in the company of Jan Nagalski and his wife Felicia, were visiting the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge when we learned from a fellow visitor to the refuge that she had seen a flock of Whistling Ducks at the nearby Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville and then gave us direction on how to get there. Neither Jan nor I had ever seen Whistling Ducks, not to mention photographed them. In addition, Jan's list of new birds to see during their trip to Florida included Whistling Ducks. Just a few minutes after arriving at the park Felicia had spotted the ducks and Jan and I gave chase. It was a small flock of about seven or eight individuals basking in the sun by the edge of one of the lakes. While avoiding the fire ant mounts, I shot over a hundred frames, but most of them are very similar to each other and I don't know how many I will keep.
The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

Best viewed in Original Size

My wife and I, in the company of Jan Nagalski and his wife Felicia, were visiting the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge when we learned from a fellow visitor to the refuge that she had seen a flock of Whistling Ducks at the nearby Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville and then gave us direction on how to get there. Neither Jan nor I had ever seen Whistling Ducks, not to mention photographed them. In addition, Jan's list of new birds to see during their trip to Florida included Whistling Ducks. Just a few minutes after arriving at the park Felicia had spotted the ducks and Jan and I gave chase. It was a small flock of about seven or eight individuals basking in the sun by the edge of one of the lakes. While avoiding the fire ant mounts, I shot over a hundred frames, but most of them are very similar to each other and I don't know how many I will keep.
The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

Black-Bellied Whistling Flock at Chain of Lakes Park, Titusville, Florida

Best viewed in Original Size

My wife and I, in the company of Jan Nagalski and his wife Felicia, were visiting the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge when we learned from a fellow visitor to the refuge that she had seen a flock of Whistling Ducks at the nearby Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville and then gave us direction on how to get there. Neither Jan nor I had ever seen Whistling Ducks, not to mention photographed them. In addition, Jan's list of new birds to see during their trip to Florida included Whistling Ducks. Just a few minutes after arriving at the park Felicia had spotted the ducks and Jan and I gave chase. It was a small flock of about seven or eight individuals basking in the sun by the edge of one of the lakes. While avoiding the fire ant mounts, I shot over a hundred frames, but most of them are very similar to each other and I don't know how many I will keep.
The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks at Cross Purposes at Chain of Lakes Park, Titusville, Florida

Best viewed in Original Size.

My wife and I, in the company of Jan Nagalski and his wife Felicia, were visiting the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge when we learned from a fellow visitor to the refuge that she had seen a flock of Whistling Ducks at the nearby Chain of Lakes Park in Titusville and then gave us direction on how to get there. Neither Jan nor I had ever seen Whistling Ducks, not to mention photographed them. In addition, Jan's list of new birds to see during their trip to Florida included Whistling Ducks. Just a few minutes after arriving at the park Felicia had spotted the ducks and Jan and I gave chase. It was a small flock of about seven or eight individuals basking in the sun by the edge of one of the lakes. While avoiding the fire ant mounts, I shot over a hundred frames, but most of them are very similar to each other and I don't know how many I will keep.
The Black-Bellied Whistling Duck, formerly called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck, is a Whistling Duck that breeds from the southernmost United States and tropical Central to south-central South America. In the US, it can be found year-round in peninsular Florida, parts of southeast Texas, and seasonally in southeast Arizona, and Louisiana's Gulf Coast. It is a rare breeder in such disparate locations as Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina, though it is now a common breeder in parts of central Florida. There is a large population of several hundred that winter each year in Audubon Park in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Since it is one of only two whistling duck species native to North America, it is occasionally just known as the "Whistling Duck" or "Mexican Squealer" in the southern USA.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.