Stage's Pond State Nature Preserve

Stage's Pond Waterfowl "Impressions"
as seen by Gale Warner

In the autumn of 1977 Gale Warner completed a waterfowl study of Stage's Pond as an Advanced Science project while a high school student at Teays Valley High School in Pickaway County.  In October 2002 I found a copy of the study tucked away in the preserve office bookcase, and as I read through the study I realized that Gale's "impressions" of the waterfowl were unique and wonderful.  To quote Gale "The impressions are intended to be decidedly (and hopefully, refreshingly) unscientific".  Gayle accomplished her goal and presented a document that beautifies the color, the movements and the social behavior of the waterfowl of Stage's Pond.  

I have posted several of Gale's impressions below because they are beautiful descriptions of the waterfowl in 1977 and they are still true today.  The passages demonstrate the importance of nature preserves, which is "preserving nature today for the needs of tomorrow".*  The nature preserves encourage our young researchers, writers and environmentalist to a career in promoting and protecting our natural heritage for future generations.  

The photos on this page were added to give the reader a sense of identification, they were not part of Gale's project.      Webmaster and volunteer Tim

Gale's Waterfowl Impressions

Wood Ducks - For over three months I watched the Wood Ducks - sometimes in staggeringly huge and milling flocks, sometimes in quiet families, sometimes sleeping tranquilly on one leg with their oversized heads tucked beneath a wing, sometimes playing wildly and splashing in the shadows of the tree-lined edge, sometimes perched high up in a tree, and sometimes simply floating serenely on the surface, feeding peacefully and creating an equally peaceful feeling within me.  I watched eclipse plumage males gradually gain their beauty feather by feather until they finally shone in full plumage so gorgeous that no one questions their hold on the title of the world's most beautiful duck.  I watched flocks of 200 and more fly in at dusk to rest on the pond; I watched as many take off and encircle the pond at sunrise, seemingly flying only to celebrate the birth of a new day.  I watched a single lost baby stray so close to me that his fuzzy body nearly filled my scope; and many times I had to struggle to discern the far-away shapes on the farthest part of the pond.  Their call was high-pitched, strident, yet sweet and haunting in quality--unmistakably the sound of something very wild and very lovely.  It greeted me in the morning as they awoke, at midday as they played, and at night as they flew in with a shuffling of feathers and the rippling sound of many splashing bodies.  Nothing can compare with the sight of a large flock of "woodies" seething restlessly just before take-off or after splashdown.  In the sunlight the scene is an indescribably beautiful display of color and motion.  From the dozen or so residents pairs to the restless stragglers of late November, the woodies never ceased to delight me.

Mallards - In some ways it's a shame that Mallards are as common as they are.  We all tend to take them for granted, despite the fact that they are one of the most beautiful ducks we have.  I remember one day in November when I was watching a small flock of Mallards play in the sunlight - certainly one of the most amusing and colorful sights possible.  Two birdwatchers came up behind me and inquired as to what I was looking at so intently.  "The only thing out there is a bunch of Mallards," they said in disgust, and soon stomped off.  This remark irritated me, and I felt a deep pity for those birders who cannot enjoy the antics of Mallards merely because they are common.  What can be more endearing than the sight of "bottoms up," and of orange feet paddling furiously for balance; or the smug look and dog-like tail-wagging that marks their self-satisfaction when they do emerge?  True, a placid, down-to-earth Mallard does typify the average duck, if such a bird exists.  Their comical call, so reminiscent of the stereotyped "quack" for which ducks are famous, adds to the impression that Mallards are ordinary ducks and nothing to get excited about. Perhaps ordinary-but no less satisfying to watch.

Blue-winged Teal - The tiny, petite teal always bunched together in tight flocks, feeding on the shallowest areas of the pond.  They were rather drab-looking in their fall plumage, and their only distinguishing feature was the powder-blue of their wings.  Personality-wise, the teal were an enigma.  Sometimes a pair would boldly swim up to within a few yards of me, and sometimes a small flock across the pond would hide furtively behind cover.  Rather aloof, they never mixed with any of the other ducks.

Pied-billed Grebe - By far the tiniest and cutest of the pond's visitors.  The grebes seemed to display an alert curiosity in all that happened around them.  One of the tamest and most active species, they ranged far and wide on the pond, either by diving and swimming underwater or by flying short distances.  Their take-off was a ridiculous combination of frantic running on the water, frenzied wing-flapping  and shrill cries.  Flying hardly seemed worth all that effort, and the grebes seemed to prefer their graceful aquatic method of transportation.  Their ability to dive unexpectedly in a split second made watching them all the more interesting.

Pintail - These elegant and beautiful ducks spent most of their time demurely feeding among the grasses of the Pond's edge, only occasionally swimming out into view.  Slim and svelte, the Pintails looked and behaved like members of an aristocracy-always proud and noble in bearing.

Hooded Merganser - Watching the Hooded Mergansers was a particular joy to me, since the pair that arrived on Nov. 6 was the first I had ever seen.  They were worth the wait--the darling male with his bold white hood and two black racing stripes, and the more modestly-dressed female with her swept-back crest and flat-topped head.  They seemed too exquisite to be real--every feather immaculately in place as they sailed over the pond like tiny clipper ships.  The flock of eight that arrived on a blustery day before a blizzard were huddled together and looked very cold.  They all appeared to wish that they were somewhere else.

Northern Phalarope - The graceful little phalarope whirled in dizzy circles as tirelessly as a wind-up toy.  Its energy seemed boundless--it almost never ceased its frantic feeding.  Constantly staring into the water as though some mislaid treasure was hidden below the surface, its silly and flustered antics were charming to watch.  The little phalarope seemed quite nonplussed at being stranded on Stages Pond.  Obviously an individualist, it avoided all the other birds and seemed content to revolve incessantly, dabbing its needle-like bill hopefully into the water.

*Preserving nature today for the needs of tomorrow - is the mission statement of the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

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