Diving & swimming underwater....

[fastrnrik]

So while out working around the pond yesterday I hear a large splash. Since I live in Florida, my first thought was "Alligator" and that he was trying to have a snack. Gators show up fairly often here, and I've actually had to relocate two in the past couple weeks. Anyway, when I walked down to where I could see, I saw several of the ducks and one of the smaller geese diving underwater, swimming underwater for quite a distance, then popping up making the splash I was hearing. Not the normal butt in the air, head under water deal, but diving & being fully submerged. I watched them for awhile to see what they were up to (and it was funny). It wasn't any particular breed or gender doing it. A pekin male and female were doing it, a swedish, a rouen, and the young African goose were all doing it. The ducks swim underwater about 10' to 15' or so before they pop up, and the goose must think he is a submarine because he can go 25' to 30' before he pops up. They were doing it again today. It's hilarious. There are no fish in the pond for them to be chasing, and the pond is deep where they were so no vegitation on the bottom or anything like that for them to be snacking on. I assume they're just playing around? I guess I never knew fat 'ol domestic ducks swam nderwater like that, and I never had any idea that geese did. My big African goose barely goes in the pond while this young one wants to be a pelican LOL . Just wondering if that's a common thing

 

[sourland]

I agree with you in your assessment that it is a form of 'play' for them. I have watched ducks and geese do the same thing many times. It appears to be contagious throughout the flock, and to me they are having fun. As many play activities are it is based upon an escape mechanism that waterfowl sometimes use when attacked by aerial predators.

 

[fastrnrik]

You're right, contagious is a good word as they all start carrying on. it's a hoot. I've duck hunted a lot in the past and seen wild ducks dive to escape, but I've never been around domestic ducks much so when I saw these fatties doing it made me laugh

 

[Miss Lydia]

You're right, contagious is a good word as they all start carrying on. it's a hoot. I've duck hunted a lot in the past and seen wild ducks dive to escape, but I've never been around domestic ducks much so when I saw these fatties doing it made me laugh

Okay now we need a video.

 

[fastrnrik]

I will try to get one.

 

[Habibs Hens]

i wanna see a vid too


my ducks always dive under and swim then pop up

but never that long a time

 

[Miss Lydia]

I will try to get one.

I have seen my ducklings swim under water but being they have a stock tank and kiddie pool it's not so easy for them now that they are grown. especially my 2 geese.

 

[fastrnrik]

The goose is the one that was tripping me out. He goes down long enough that a couple times I was a little concerned. Only one goose does it. The other small one and the two big ones don't do it. Several of the ducks do it. I will see if I can catch it on video.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The goose is the one that was tripping me out. He goes down long enough that a couple times I was a little concerned. Only one goose does it. The other small one and the two big ones don't do it. Several of the ducks do it. I will see if I can catch it on video.

 

[Scott Barr]

Turner and Tucker do this all the time ... I think you have seen their YouTube vids but this one has a lot of water play.