Aquatic Birds

Pinwheeling

There were lots of northern shovelers at the wastewater treatment plant. I'd seen these ducks before but it was my first time to see this behavior that they do. There were circles of varying sizes all over the ponds. Its called pinwheeling. They swim rapidly in circles to collect food from the surface by creating a funnel effect. Very cool.
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Anas clypeatanorthern shovelerduckaquatic birdwater fowlunusual billmale northern shovelerdabbling duckfemale northern shovelerpinwheelingcooperative feedingcirclesspinningfeedingeatingaquaticdallas texasswimmingDallas Southside Water Treatment Plantwater treatment plantrestrictive accessmunicipal water treatment plantbirding hotspotfeeding behavior