Field notes from the water’s edge.

Field notes

Do Swans Have Predators? Yes, More Than People Think

A naturalist's read on swan predation - adult swans have surprisingly few enemies, but cygnets are vulnerable to a long list of predators. Which species hunt swans and at which life stage.

Field notes

Do Swans Need Water to Take Off? Mostly, Yes

A naturalist's read on swan takeoff mechanics - why most swan species need a long water runway, the rare exceptions on land, and what the takeoff actually looks like.

Field notes

Do Geese Keep Snakes Away? The Surprisingly Yes-ish Answer

A naturalist's read on whether keeping geese genuinely deters snakes - what the evidence says, which species are deterred, and whether it works as a property-management strategy.

Field notes

Do Geese Need a Pond? Not Really

A naturalist's read on what geese actually need for water - a pond is nice but not essential. What works instead, and the bare minimum water access for a small flock.

Field notes

Do Hawks Attack Cats and Dogs? The Real Risk

Hawks can take pets under 5 lb but rarely try anything bigger. A naturalist's honest read on real risk versus internet panic.

Field notes

Do Ducks Lay Eggs in Water? Almost Never, And Here's Why

Ducks build nests on dry ground or in tree cavities. A naturalist's read on why water-laying happens only by accident or distress.

Field notes

Do Ducks Lay Unfertilized Eggs? Yes, And Often

Female ducks lay eggs whether a drake is present or not. A naturalist's read on when wild and domestic ducks produce unfertilised eggs, and what to do with them.

Field notes

Do Geese Eat Fish? The Honest Answer

Geese are not piscivores - but they will eat a small fish under specific conditions. A naturalist's read on the rare cases where geese take fish, and why it almost never happens.

Field notes

Diet of Mallard Ducks: What They Actually Eat

A naturalist's read on the Mallard's diet - the seven food categories that make up a wild Mallard's year, what changes seasonally, and why protein matters most in spring.

Field notes

Do Ducks Eat Snakes? Yes, Small Ones

A naturalist's read on whether ducks really eat snakes - which species do it most, what size of snake they actually take, and why a duck pond reduces local snake numbers.

Field notes

Do Ducks Have Beaks or Bills? Both Words, One Tool

Beak and bill are the same structure - ornithologists use 'bill' for ducks because of its flat, lamellated shape. A naturalist's read on the duck mouthpart.

Field notes

Can Swans Eat Bread? Technically Yes, But Don't

Bread is the worst thing you can feed a swan. It causes angel wing, water pollution, and crop impaction. A naturalist's read of why, and what to feed instead.