An Original DUCKumentary

Ducks are adaptable, social creatures who seem to be everywhere, yet rarely stray far from water. Hatched from their eggs (and resembling diminutive dinosaurs), they quickly imprint on their mother, leave their nests, form a family, and waste little time making their way in the world. This PBS-aired Nature documentary, narrated by Paul Giamatti, covers many of the 120 species of ducks, but concentrates primarily on the common North American Wood Duck. Viewers will learn that during infancy, many ducklings fall prey to hawks, foxes, and even household cats; ducks often secure food by diving under the water, although some are content to "dabble" on the surface; and that male ducks use brightly colored feathers and elaborate courtship rituals to land a mate, yet take no part in raising the family (some male ducks are known to "harass" females, even engaging in forced copulations—perhaps explained by the fact that males usually outnumber females). Ducks often have "blended" families, laying eggs in other nests and leaving them for other ducks to raise, a possible survival hedge against predators. The documentary explains various mysteries of the duck world, such as their habit of dropping all of their flight feathers at once during the summer (when ducks are rarely seen, but can be heard quacking happily in the thick marshes). The familiar V-shaped flying formation of ducks is explained as a matter of efficiency, with most ducks flying in the slipstream, thereby minimizing efforts and conserving energy needed for the long migratory flights in search of food. Beautifully lensed and packed with informative (and often humorous) insights into the hidden life of ducks, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)