Now, vast improvements in molds for heads or entire full size bodies are now available for the artist. Skins are now professionally tanned which helps tremendously to provide a long lasting mount.

Artificial life-like eyes are species specific, whether for birds, fish, reptiles or mammals. The result is an animal mount that will endure for decades and continue to retain its excellent presentation.

Animal mounts by professional taxidermists go a long way to help the cause of conservation. Notable examples of the art of taxidermy can be viewed at many wildlife museums across America. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History is just one of many locations where professionally prepared mounts help tell the story of habitats that sustain wildlife.

Another closer to home museum is an easy day drive to Springfield, Mo. The world famous Bass Pro facilities and convention center has numerous displays at their Wonders of Wildlife Museums.

This museum complex is not a one day and done kind of thing. To adequately see all that is offered, one must plan on several days so as to allow time to absorb the fantastic stories told. Big game animals of North America are featured, and the display of ocean fish, freshwater fish, and a huge multi-story tall aquarium will draw you in and make you want to stay, to linger longer.

Waterfowl mounts are just one specialty that is of intense interest to Mike Stegmann. His attention to detail is top-of-the-line when it comes to waterfowl, and so it was that his 2023 entry of a Goldeneye duck made its way into the showroom of this year’s Iowa Taxidermy Association. Precision and professional quality work was apparent to the public who viewed the displays, and especially apparent to judges who must cast a critical eye for detail and life-like accuracy on any of the entries they must review. Congratulations, Mike, on a job well done.

The Common Goldeneye (Buccephala clangula) is a beautiful duck. Drakes have an attractive black and white feather pattern, an iridescent dark green head and a brilliant yellow-gold eye.

A prominent small white patch is found on the head between the eye and the base of its black

Beak. A nickname sometimes used is “whistler” for the sounds the beating wings make as they fly close to you, past you or if in a hunting blind.

Goldeneye ducks are medium-sized, being about 16 to 18 inches long. Weight is about two pounds. Spring mating and courting rituals will find the drake throwing its head way back and then quickly forward again while making a loud call.

Hens are tree cavity nesters in deciduous forest trees. They will also nest in artificial nest boxes. Some natural tree cavities can be as high as 60 feet above ground. The nest inside will consist of wood chips, old squirrel nest materials and downy feathers.

Eggs will number from 8 to 12, are olive-green in color, and will be incubated for 28 to 32 days. When the young hatch, they must climb up the inside of the tree nest cavity, and then jump to the ground, regardless of how high it is, to follow the hen to closeby water.

Goldeneyes eat lots of insects primarily in and around aquatic environments. Foods include caddisfly larvae, mayflies, damselflies, leeches, frogs, small fish and even some plant tubers/roots, and pondweeds.

Lots of predators are always on the lookout for a snack of susceptible Goldeneye adults or ducklings. In northern forests, black bears, martens, and mink will eat these ducks if they can. Further south, raccoons, raptors, or red squirrels will dine on ducks. In lakes where northern pike lurk, trouble from below the water line can come up from below to grab an adult duck or small ducklings.

Range maps show Goldeneyes across all the lower 48 states. Summer range is all across Canada and Alaska. Nest sites in Canada are near boreal woodlands adjacent to water of lakes, bogs, marshes, rivers and wetlands.

This species is widespread, common and has a large stable population. It is rated as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Look for Goldeneyes this month as they continue to migrate northward and stopover at water sites to rest and feed. Local areas to always closely observe are Sand Lake, Green Castle, Hendrickson Marsh, Union Grove State Park, and Pine Lake State Park. Enjoy anytime you spend outside this spring.

Keep the binoculars at quick access along with a good waterfowl identification book. Enjoy.

———

A waterfowl watch program is being offered on April 8, a Saturday, to Hendrickson Marsh and the Colo Bogs area. Hendrickson is in the far southwest corner of Marshall County and the far southeast corner of Story.

The Colo bogs areas are only a few miles west of State Center along old Highway 30. The time to meet and begin this waterfowl watch activity is 8 a.m. at the Grimes Farm parking lot. From there, a carpool will travel to observation sites.

Pre-registration is required by calling the Conservation Center at 641-752-5490, emailing mccb@marshallcountyis.gov, or text message only to 641-752-9777. Bring your own binoculars and spotting scope if you have one, and be ready for your special guide for the morning, none other than Mike Stegmann. The deadline to register is March 31 at 4:30 p.m.

Hendrickson Marsh has abundant water at this time of year due to snow melt and recent rains. Birds of all kinds are using this wetland to rest, and feed, all in preparation for some who have a long way to fly to get to summer nesting grounds.

While the birds are here, the time to observe them is now. It can be a fantastic opportunity to watch and learn more about avian wildlife.

———

Here are some words of wisdom: “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If not, you will find an excuse.”

— Anonymous

Garry Brandenburg is the retired director of the Marshall County Conservation Board. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS degree in Fish & Wildlife Biology.

Contact him at:

P.O. Box 96

Albion, IA 50005