Any bird experts on here?!?!

Rainmama Posted: Mar 30, 2004 11:15 AM

Any bird experts on here?!?!

When I was visiting LI last week we saw the STRANGEST, FREAKIEST bird I've ever seen!!!

It was hanging out with canadian geese. It was a bit bigger than a goose and was mostly all black. The body looked like a VERY large duck and it's wings were green (like a male duck). It had webbed feet and it's head was it's strangest feature. It had bright red around it's eyes and beak, almost looked like pieces of rubber. The shape of it's head made me think of a puffin. Maybe it was some kind of mutant bird from a toxic waste dump. I dunno...I've been searching online like a wild woman to find this 'bird.'

Anyone heard of or ever seen anything like this?!?!?!?

sweetadeline Posted: Mar 30, 2004 11:26 AM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

Weird! That sounds like some sort of domestic or exotic goose rather than a wild species. Do you remember what the legs looked like? Did it have long, skinny legs like a heron or a crane?

Rainmama Posted: Mar 30, 2004 11:30 AM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

no it had very short legs. if you were to look at everything but it's head it looked like an extremely large duck.

sweetadeline Posted: Mar 30, 2004 11:46 AM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

So far, my best guess is that you saw a black swan. Not sure though! Here are some websites with photos...

http://www.mawba.com/identify.htm

http://www.saczoo.com/3_kids/1_australia/black_swans.htm

sweetadeline Posted: Mar 30, 2004 11:57 AM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

One more idea... lots of farms and petting zoos have Muscovy ducks ... you might have seen an escapee! Muscovies come in lots of varieties but some of them are black with green on the sides.

http://www.feathersite.com//Poultry/Ducks/Musc/BRKScobies.html

Rainmama Posted: Mar 31, 2004 02:24 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

bumping because this is still driving me crazy

ETA:Nevermind...I just realized that sweetadeline found what i was looking for!
Thank you!!

sweetadeline Posted: Mar 31, 2004 02:31 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

No problem! Was it the Muscovy duck? Those are really weird looking.

Rainmama Posted: Mar 31, 2004 02:33 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

yes. that's exactly what it was! They are VERY weird looking ducks! The size alone is what threw me off. It really did look like a mutant!

BellaBella Posted: Mar 31, 2004 02:38 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

I would have loved to have seen him!

you sure it's not this? LOL!

turkey vulture

Rainmama Posted: Mar 31, 2004 02:43 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

nope, not a turkey vulture..LOL. It was definitely a muscovy. It had the web-feet and everything

BellaBella Posted: Mar 31, 2004 02:46 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

WOW! I actually think he's beautiful! Where on LI was it?! I am going there

Rainmama Posted: Mar 31, 2004 02:48 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

I don't remember the name of the park but it's on a lake in Hewlett.

gertyrae Posted: Mar 31, 2004 03:10 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

My mom called me one day cuz she saw them and couldn't figure out what they were. I think she saw them at the same park. We looked all over on line until we found them and she was sooo excited when she knew what they were called.

Jordan Posted: Mar 31, 2004 03:29 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

Oh, he's beautiful! He looks like 3 different fowl melded together!

dm24angel Posted: Mar 31, 2004 06:05 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

Posted by Jordan

Oh, he's beautiful! He looks like 3 different fowl melded together!

I dont know about beautiful...strange maybe...lol

bobbsbride Posted: Mar 31, 2004 06:06 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

Maybe he is a mutant goose!!

BellaBella Posted: Mar 31, 2004 06:13 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

aw girls don't make fun of him..I am sure he/she is very loveable

matron Posted: Mar 31, 2004 07:11 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

BellaBella...you sound like me! Are you an animal fanatic like me? I used to work for the Audubon Society (actually for almost six years) and sadly, I didn't even know what that bird was.

BellaBella Posted: Mar 31, 2004 10:08 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

Posted by matron

BellaBella...you sound like me! Are you an animal fanatic like me? I used to work for the Audubon Society (actually for almost six years) and sadly, I didn't even know what that bird was.

Yes I am
There are so many creatures out there it's hard to know them all. I respect and love ALL animals which is the prime reason I became vegetarian
I want to start working with animals somewhere too. I kick myself for not going to vet school way back when, but am still considering it..

matron Posted: Mar 31, 2004 10:12 PM

Re: Any bird experts on here?!?!

I'm a vegetarian too -- Vegan actually -- for 15 years! I love meeting other veggies, even if it is online. Ironically enough, I'm deathly allergic to so many animals though. I have two dogs (that I'm allergic to, but not severely) but unfortunately, my allergies keep me from working directly with animals. I also could not handle putting animals to sleep just because people did not want them (which is what happens at many shelters and vets), so I decided to work at a nonprofit animal rights/environmental org instead. Turned out to be too much office work and not enough animal saving so I left after almost 6 years. My hubbie and I want to start a rescue of some sort when we retire. Talk about planning for the future!