№ 180 № 18017 Jan 2026
Why Do Ducks Quack? The Real Meaning Behind the Call
Female mallards quack; males rasp. Each call has a job: contact, alarm, courtship, or location. A naturalist's read on the duck vocabulary.
The Journal · Page 10 of 24
Field notes,
Field notes,
page 10.
Continuing the archive: slow essays and observations from marshes, mangroves, and pondsides around the world.
288essays archived
10of 24 pages
weeklynew notes
All dispatches
№ 180 № 17917 Jan 2026
Why Do Ducks Stand on Each Other? Mating, Not Bullying
Ducks standing on each other is almost always mating behaviour. A naturalist's read on what's actually happening and when to be concerned.
№ 179 
№ 178 № 17816 Jan 2026
Where Do Parakeets Live in the Wild?
A naturalist's read on the wild range of the budgerigar (the parakeet most pet-keepers know) and the broader parakeet group - Australian outback, South American rainforest, naturalised flocks in unexpected places.
№ 17716 Jan 2026
Why Do Crows Attack Hawks? Mobbing, Explained
Crows mob hawks to drive predators out of their nesting territory and teach younger crows what to fear. A naturalist's read on a daily aerial drama.
№ 177 
№ 176 № 17616 Jan 2026
Why Do Ducks Bob Their Heads Up and Down?
Ducks head-bob to communicate excitement, signal courtship readiness, and confirm species identity. A naturalist's read of when it means what.
№ 17515 Jan 2026
What to Feed Wild Ducks (and What to Stop Feeding Them)
A naturalist's guide to feeding wild ducks - the eight foods that are genuinely safe and useful, the five that cause real harm, and why bread is the worst thing you can hand to a mallard.
№ 175 
№ 174 № 17415 Jan 2026
What to Put in a Bird Feeder: The Six That Work
A naturalist's guide to what bird seed actually works - the six staples that attract the most birds, what each one is for, and the two things you should stop putting in your feeder.
№ 17315 Jan 2026
When to Put Up an Owl Box: Timing for North American Owls
A naturalist's guide to the right time to install an owl nest box - late autumn for most species, before squirrels select winter dens, in time for owl scouting in late winter.
№ 173 
№ 172 № 17214 Jan 2026
What Are Baby Ducks Called? Ducklings Explained
Baby ducks are called ducklings. A field naturalist's read on what that actually means - the timeline from hatch to fledge, how to tell a duckling from a gosling or a cygnet, and the brood biology that decides how many survive.
№ 17114 Jan 2026
What Can I Feed Ducks at the Pond? The Quick Reference
A short, practical guide to safe and unsafe foods for pond ducks - what to bring, what to leave at home, and how to feed them properly without harming the pond.
№ 171 
№ 170 № 17014 Jan 2026
What Colours Do Birds Not Like? The Honest Answer
A naturalist's read on what bird research actually shows about colour aversion - which colours genuinely deter birds, why, and how to use the information practically.
№ 16913 Jan 2026
Owl Eyes: Anatomy of the Best Night Vision in the Bird World
Owl eyes are tubes, not spheres. They can't move. The bird turns its whole head instead. A naturalist's read on the anatomy and what it costs the bird.
№ 169