How far can ducks travel in a day? | Intel Report by 50Ducks

How far can ducks travel in a day? Well, that depends on the duck—and whether or not I’m the one blowing the call that sends them clean out of the country.

Take Scoop, a Northern Shoveler banded by 50 Ducks and Tierra De Aves. This incredible bird made an awe-inspiring journey, traveling 1,434 miles in just 26 hours. Sure, I know what you’re thinking—26 hours isn’t technically a day. And if you’re anything like the troll on social media, that’s the only part of this article you’ll remember. But stay with me, because Scoop’s story is worth your attention.

The Journey of Scoop

Scoop, named by a group of middle school students, started his migration just west of Mexico City at 1:54 AM on March 25th. Over the next 26 hours, he flew non-stop to the Otter Creek State Wildlife Area in Ottumwa, Kansas, showcasing the sheer power and endurance of migrating waterfowl.

Here’s what makes his journey so remarkable:

Distance Covered: 1,434 miles
Peak Altitude: 17,319 feet above sea level, with six hours spent above 15,000 feet.
Speed Variations: Scoop’s hourly speeds ranged from 28 mph to an incredible 91 mph, showing how ducks adapt their pace to wind currents and migration conditions.

This kind of travel takes a massive toll. After this 26 hour flight Scoop used the Otter Creek Wildlife Area for 26 days as a stopover site, before continuing his migration north.

What Makes This Possible?

Ducks like Scoop utilize wind currents, altitude changes, and their remarkable physiology to achieve these feats. During his journey, Scoop climbed an additional 10,000 feet from his starting elevation of 7,270 feet in Mexico, reaching his peak height near Los Lomas, Texas. These kinds of migrations are not only fascinating but highlight the extraordinary resilience of waterfowl.

Why We Do This

At 50 Ducks, we band waterfowl for a lot of reasons, but in its simplest form, we do it, to show how incredible cool they are. With the 50 Ducks app, you can now track a few of these birds in real time, watching their movements as they navigate flyways, cross borders, and make pit stops across North America.

If you’ve ever wondered where those ducks you spooked ended up, maybe they’re halfway to Mexico—and now, with 50 Ducks, you can find out. You might just learn something new—or at the very least, gain a whole new appreciation for the ducks we love to chase.

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