Female Wood Ducks and Turkey Oak Acorns
The two female Wood Ducks that have been hanging around the Harlem Meer seem particularity interested in acorns from the Turkey Oak trees that overhang the east side of the meer. Mallards and Canada Geese are also attracted to the acorns, but being less wary of humans, they come up on shore and scavenge the nuts from beneath the Turkey Oaks.The Wood Ducks have a more novel approach. They go diving for acorns. Well, they don't actually dive. Like most dabbling ducks they upend themselves while bottom feeding. This female is eating a Turkey Oak acorn she just grabbed from the bottom of the Meer near the "beach" area.
Turkey Oak acorns are elongated and separate easily from the cap. Upon further investigation I found numerous Turkey Oaks around Central Park. There are a few around the Meer and a large number on the eastern edge of the reservoir.
Turkey Oak's are so named because they are native to Turkey. These hardy trees are common in Europe but found in the United States mostly in parks and botanical gardens where their hardiness makes them a popular choice.
