With the changing of the leaves and dipping of the thermometer you may have noticed some new visitors in our area. No, not the Floridians who drove up to experience a change of seasons, but new wildlife that grace our bird feeders and beaver ponds for a few short months.

Waterfowl hold a special place in my family’s heart and occupy a large portion of our brain. We have even been called “bird brains” which I take as a complement as I scour every beaver swamp, farm pond, and retention puddle for migrating waterfowl.

The migration starts in September with the arrival of Blue Winged Teal. These small birds would be the extreme “snowbirds” if they were humans. Just as some folks from the Great Lakes pack up at the first hint of fall, these birds start to migrate when the days start to get shorter. The birds that rest in our area start out in the Great Lakes region and Canada and head south down the Ohio River valley. They take a left turn through the Smokies going up the French Broad River and take a breather in our upstate ponds. If you see them in one place, you better take time to enjoy them because they are on a mission for Florida, the Caribbean, and even South America.

Throughout the summer you may have noticed Wood Ducks with their next generation in beaver ponds. During the summer, the families stay to themselves. But as the days get shorter and the temperature drops, this beautiful duck starts to group up and feed heavily on dropped acorns. Their unmistakable whistles signal their arrival and departure to an area. With a little legwork, you can find beaver swamps that will hold large groups, even in the hundreds, that pile into the thick flooded brush like kamikaze pilots.

The most recognizable species that migrate through is the Mallard. Now, I am not talking about your pond pets that are around all year. These migratory birds are the opposite of the Blue winged teal. They tend to only migrate when their food has been covered up by ice and snow. Grudgingly, they leave their home range in the Midwest and Northeast and make their way down south. By the time they reach our area, their plumage is full, their legs are bright red, and their size is remarkable. When placed side by side a Blue Winged Teal they easily are double in size.

With the wide ranges of shapes, sizes, and colors, waterfowl are an exciting group of animals to chase with a camera, binoculars, or even a shotgun. While we do not have the large migrations that are west of us, we get a variety of species that are diverse in appearance and habits. So, this fall and winter, grab some binoculars and rubber boots and find some of these migratory wonders.  Chances are they have been right under your bill and you haven’t even noticed.

Philip Hunt is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys spending time afield with his wife, two kids, and two dogs any chance he gets. He can be reached at twodogoutdoors@gmail.com. Look for this column on the first Thursday of the month.