Divers and Dabblers sign

This sign at this viewpoint along the trail at the Horan Natural Area reads,

Divers and Dabblers

If you watch a duck for just a few minutes, you can get several clues about its lifestyle. Dabbling ducks (“puddle ducks”) feed mainly on aquatic plants by upending in shallow waters. Diving ducks (“bay ducks”) eat plants too, but add many more fish and small aquatic animals to their diet than dabbling ducks. They dive below the surface of deeper water, reappearing after several seconds.

Dabbling ducks are often seen in shallow water or on the shore because they can launch directly into the air. When a diving duck takes flight, it must run along the surface of the water to gain momentum. As a result, diving ducks are not often seen between the river islands and the shore. They prefer more open water with plenty of room to take off if danger arises. Can you spot both divers and dabblers as you walk through the park?