130 Notes

George K. Peck: Distinguished Ornithologist

Jim Richards

Usually, the publication of a major knowledge of Ontario birds work in ornithology signals the cul­ through papers published in The mination of years of work and Wilson Bulletin, Canadian Field­ much research. However, when Naturalist, Ontario Birds, and Breeding Birds of Ontario: Ontario Field Biologist. As well, he Nidiology and Distribution. Volume authored eight species accounts in 1: Nonpasserines was released by Atlas of the Breeding Birds of the Royal Ontario Museum in 1983, Ontario (1987), and co-authored followed by Volume 2: Passerines in (with Jim Richards) a chapter in 1987, it was just the beginning. Ornithology in Ontario (1994). These very pertinent publications, His attention to detail, evident authored by George Peck and his in his meticulous field journals, is close friend Ross D. James, have legendary; a trait self-imposed but been continuously updated in enhanced through association with Ontario Birds (in seven install­ others like James. L. Baillie, Rev. ments from 1993 to 1999). Charles Long,Terry Shortt and Ross The Ontario Nest Records James. An active member of numer­ Scheme (Royal Ontario Museum) ous organizations (some since was 10 years old (with 1800 cards) 1939), national, international and when George assumed leadership local, he was appointed as Research as its volunteer coordinator in 1966. Associate at the Royal Ontario Since that time, through his hard Museum in 1976. He received a work, dedication and networking, Conservation Achievement Award he has built the scheme to over from the Federation of Ontario 115,000 cards and the most com­ Naturalists in 1988, and was nomi­ plete record in existence of the nated a Fellow of the American breeding biology of Ontario birds. Ornithologists' Union in 2000. He has authored 29 annual reports Having earned respect and during this time, keeping partici­ recognition through his research pants informed as to the status of and writing activities, George is the work, which is co-sponsored by even better known as a wildlife pho­ the Canadian Wildlife Service. tographer with a penchant for birds. The works noted above form His acclaimed images (about 2,500 only a part of the 98 titles in his to date) have been published in 71 published bibliography. He has con­ books and numerous magazines and tributed much to the scientific journals. In addition, his photo-

ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 2001 131

Figure 1: Presentation ofthe OFO Distinguished Ornithologist Award at the Annual General Meeting in Leamington on 29 September 2001. Left to right: Jim Richards, Jean Iron, Chris Escott, and George Peck. Photo by Sam Barone. graphic art graces the pages of many opening of the new bird gallery in textbooks and various series by 1989-90. While his photography is Grolier, Readers Digest and driven by his passion for birds and Natures Children, numerous post­ other wildlife, he admits to being cards, calendars, newsletters, bul­ influenced by the works of masters letins and brochures. George is a such as Vic Crich (an early field major contributor to the CWS companion), Eliot Porter, Eric Wildspace website, with over 1,400 Hosking and John Shaw. of his images being used, and to the In addition to amassing an Royal Ontario Museum's Biodiver­ army of dedicated volunteers for sity website. the ONRS, writing, speaking, George has enjoyed participat­ researching, and creating magnifi­ ing in several photo exhibitions cent photographic images, perhaps open to the public in Burlington, one of his most valuable contribu­ Hamilton, Ottawa, Craigleith, tions has been the ability to infect Collingwood, Thornbury, Kitchener, and inspire others with the same Owen Sound and Toronto. He was passion he has enjoyed, through one of three artists (along with son personal contact. George is truly a Mark Peck and friend Jim Richards) Distinguished Ornithologist. I am who had their works displayed by proud to have nominated him for the Royal Ontario Museum for sev­ this award and equally proud to eral months to commemorate the include him as a friend. Jim Richards, 14 Centre Street, Orono, Ontario LOB 1MO VOLUME 19 NUMBER 3 132 A Northern Shoveler-Mallard Pair

George Fairfield

Hybridism between duck species is close to the female. The Northern common. Kortright (1942) named Shoveler landed on the male the Northern Shoveler (Anas Mallard and chased him across the clypeata) as one of the many species water, bobbing his head. There was a that occasionally interbreeds with second aerial chase similar to the the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). first one. The male Mallard again The following observations illus­ landed close to the female. The trate how a male Northern Northern Shoveler landed beside Shoveler can dominate a male him and chased him until he escaped Mallard in protecting his associa­ by flying up and landing beside me tion with a female Mallard. on the deck. The Northern Shoveler On 23 May 1987, I was standing then returned to the female Mallard, on the concrete abutment that bor­ and the male Mallard returned to ders the western side of the filtra­ the water, a short distance away. tion plant at Toronto Island and When I left, the Northern Shoveler overlooks a small bay off Toronto was again between the male and Harbour. The deck of the abutment female Mallards. is about 1.5 m above the water. On During this episode, the female the far side of the bay, I saw a male seemed to pay no attention to the Northern Shoveler swimming with a conflict and swam quietly around female Mallard. The female Mallard near me, apparently hoping for more swam over to me, no doubt to solic­ handouts. The observations described it food. The Northern Shoveler fol­ above covered a span of about 20 lowed her over. I threw some bits of minutes. I observed the action from sandwich into the water and the within 30 m, except when the aerial Mallard female ate them. chases were underway. A male Mallard appeared and The following day, 24 May, at swam toward the other two ducks. 1045h, I returned to the same place The Northern Shoveler placed him­ with my camera and obtained the self between the male and female photos that accompany this note. Mallards. The Northern Shoveler When I arrived, the male Northern then attacked the male Mallard, Shoveler was resting with the female bobbing his head vigorously. The Mallard on the shore on the far male Mallard flew off with the (west) side of the bay. The female Northern Shoveler in close pursuit. Mallard entered the water and swam The Northern Shoveler's bill was over to me, with the Northern open as he chased the Mallard. The Shoveler about 20 m behind her. I male Mallard circled and landed threw some bread into the water. ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 2001 133

Figure 1: Male Northern Shoveler placing itself between the male and female Mallards,24 May 1987. Photo by George Fairfield.

Figure 2: Male Northern Shoveler chasing male Mallard, 24 May 1987. Photo by George Fairfield.

VOLUME 19 NUMBER 3 134

Two male Mallards then appeared Kortright (1942) stated that and swam over. Immediately, the "polyandry is very prevalent with contest started between the this species (the Northern Shoveler) Northern Shoveler and one of the and the amiability with which this male Mallards. The second Mallard unusual matrimonial arrangement is left and was not seen again. accepted by both husbands is The female Mallard seemed astounding. ... Polyandry is also only interested in the bread and was practised to some extent by the much more aggressive than the Mallards, but the males ... object males at getting it. If a piece landed strongly." The present Northern close to one of the males, she would Shoveler male did not accept a sec­ rush over and he would let her take ond "husband" with amiability, per­ it. The Northern Shoveler kept him­ haps because he was not another self between the female and male Northern Shoveler. Mallards (Figure 1). When the male Martz (1964) described similar Mallard came close to the female, behaviour to that observed by the the Northern Shoveler swam toward writer, involving a male Northern him, bobbing his head and uttering Shoveler and a pair of Blue-winged low "clucks". Occasionally, this Teal (Anas discors): "The Shoveler became a chase across the water, continuously head pumped. He with the Northern Shoveler right rushed repeatedly with bill open at behind the Mallard with his beak the Blue-winged Teal who persist­ open (Figure 2). I saw no aerial ently tried to reach the female." flights this day. When I left at 1130h Dzubin (1959) observed a male after obtaining my photographs, the Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) keep­ contest was still going on. ing a male Mallard apart from a Throughout my observations I female Mallard in a similar manner. did not see any courtship display by Nellis (1970) recorded two instances the female Mallard but she seemed of male Green-winged Teal (Anas to accept the close association with crecca)-Mallard pair associations. the male Northern Shoveler. In one, the teal attacked the male I returned to the same spot a Mallard when he attempted to cop­ year later, on 28 May 1988, and ulate with the female. In the other, found a male Northern Shoveler, no aggressive behaviour was seen. which I presumed to be the same The Northern Shoveler is an bird, keeping a male MaPcard away uncommon breeding bird in Ontario from a female Mallard in the same and no evidence of breeding was manner described above. reported for Toronto in Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario Discussion (Sandilands 1987). It is unlikely that Both Northern Shovelers and this male Northern Shoveler could Mallards form courtship trios. find a mate of its own species.

ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 2001 135

The writer saw no evidence of interbreeding between the Northern Want a great Shoveler and the Mallard. However, birding tour? where such interbreeding does occur, the above observations demonstrate that a male Northern Shoveler, in spite of its smaller size, does not necessarily need to sneak in and surreptitiously inseminate the Mallard. In the present case, the male Northern Shoveler was quite capable of dominating the larger male Mallard and forming a pair Mangrove Cuckoo - Rob Williams with the female. Costa Rica: Feb 9 - 23 Acknowledgements Belize and Tikal: Feb 16 - 28 Many thanks to James Bendell, who Western Venezuela: Feb 23 - Mar 9 provided helpful comments on an Central Mexico: Feb 24 - Mar 4 earlier draft. Sri Lanka: Mar 2 - 16 Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico: Mar 5 - 15 Literature Cited Southern Mexico: Apr 6 - 20 Dzubin, A. 1959. A Pintail Drake-Mallard EI Triunfo: Apr 24 - Mar 5 Pair Association. Blue Jay 17(2): 53-54. Kortright, RH. 1942. The Ducks Geese and Cuba: Apr 12 - 25 Swans of North America. The Stackpole Spain: May 11 - 26 Company, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Sichian China: - May 11 - 31 Wildlife Management Institute, Washing­ Okanagan Weekend: - June 6 - 9 ton, D.C. Martz, G.F. 1964. Mixed trio of a Shoveler Peru: - June 8 - 29 drake and Blue-winged Teal pair. Wilson Uganda: - July 5 - 20 Bulletin 76: 291-292. Kenya: - Oct 20 - Nov 5 Nellie, C.H., J.J. Zohrer, and D.W. Anderson. 1970. Mallard-Green-winged Teal associ­ Well-organized, quality tours with exceptional ations in southern Wisconsin. Wilson leaders and great itineraries. Bulletin 82: 461-462. Sandilands, A. 1987. Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata). Pp. 80-81 in Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario (M.D. Cadman, PEl Eagles, and EM. Helleiner, compilers). University of Waterloo Press, Waterloo, Ontario. 1-800-373-5678 George Fairfield, 332 Sheldrake P.O. Box 94672, Richmond, Be V6Y 4A4 Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario www.eagle-eye.com M4P2B8 E-mail: [email protected]

VOLUME 19 NUMBER 3