Friday's Foto

Unlike other dabbling ducks, the Northern Shoveler has a highly specialized bill that is edged with dozens of fine, comb-like projections. This adaptation allows them to skim the surface of the water, straining out invertebrates and seeds for food. This process is not unlike how some whales use baleen to filter food from the water. So if you spot a flock of these waterfowl in tight formation, spinning around with their faces in the water, don't worry, they aren't drunk, just hungry.