{"id":75405,"date":"2020-11-18T06:49:17","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T13:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=75405"},"modified":"2025-09-12T14:31:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T19:31:43","slug":"drake-green-winged-teal-at-bear-river-mbr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/11\/18\/drake-green-winged-teal-at-bear-river-mbr\/","title":{"rendered":"Drake Green-winged Teal At Bear River MBR"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Drake<\/span><\/div>

Drake Green-winged Teal paddling by – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Yesterday morning I was able to take close up photos of a drake Green-winged Teal paddling away from me at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I’ve found Green-winged Teals to be very skittish ducks and that is probably why I don’t have many photos of them in my galleries.<\/p>\n

Sadly I suspect that the reason why this drake Green-winged Teal opted to paddle away instead taking flight is that he was injured. It is hunting season at the refuge and there are times when ducks are injured during the hunting season that get away from the hunters and their dogs.<\/p>\n

I’m not trying to provoke a hate session between hunters and birdwatchers\/bird photographers and I hope that no one will attack the hunters here. These are not trophy hunters, they are hunting to provide food for their families. My ancestors including my father, step-father, uncles, and grandfathers were hunters and nature lovers. I can’t and won’t attack them for putting food on the table.<\/p>\n

I don’t hunt, I don’t have the stomach for it so when I say I am going shooting or that I am out shooting I mean I am shooting my camera.<\/p>\n

I don’t like seeing injured birds yet I also know that hunters don’t like that they injured birds that they weren’t able to retrieve for what ever reason.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Deceased<\/a><\/span><\/div>

Deceased drake Green-winged Teal floating in the marsh<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Injured<\/a><\/span><\/div>

Injured hen Green-winged Teal<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

During the hunting season birdwatchers and bird photographers can and will see injured and dead ducks at the refuge.<\/p>\n

I took these photos of a dead drake and injured hen Green-winged Teal yesterday and have posted them as small images that can be clicked to view larger if you want<\/em> to. The hen Green-winged Teal has damage to her right wing. Those feathers may grow back in time, she may survive being wing shot. She was on the other side off a canal at the refuge and was able to swim so there was no way I could capture and rescue her.<\/p>\n

It is hard for me to see injured birds that I can’t help.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Flock<\/span><\/div>

Flock of Green-winged Teal in flight over a marsh – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

I know it can be a touchy subject but birdwatchers, bird photographers, and hunters have more in common than we might think or even admit.<\/p>\n

We all want to clean air and water so that wildlife, birds, and humans survive. We all want open spaces where birds can thrive.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

(The photo of the Green-winged Teals in flight was taken in March of 2018)<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Green-winged Teal photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday morning I was able to take close up photos of a drake Green-winged Teal paddling away from me at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":155585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[124,27,1148,1175,26],"tags":[10645,4534,4053,4717,4992,10532,4483,126,4070,4052,4247,4122,4294,4359,3815,4062,4094,10644,1283,7094,4920,3996,2063],"class_list":["post-75405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-green-winged-teals","category-utah","tag-alternate-plumage","tag-anas-crecca","tag-breeding-plumage","tag-dabbling-ducks","tag-dead","tag-deceased","tag-drake","tag-ducks-2","tag-female","tag-flight","tag-flock","tag-flying","tag-green-winged-teal","tag-hen","tag-injured","tag-male","tag-marsh","tag-paddling","tag-swimming","tag-teal","tag-teals","tag-water","tag-waterfowl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/green-winged-teal-drake-marsh-mia-mcpherson-4700.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-jCd","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":97768,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/11\/29\/remembering-higher-water-in-the-great-salt-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":75405,"position":0},"title":"Remembering Higher Water In The Great Salt Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"I came across this photo of a Green-winged Teal with Northern Shovelers in the surf of the Great Salt Lake that I took in December of 2011 yesterday. It was a punch in the gut.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Green-winged Teal with Northern Shovelers in the surf of the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/green-winged-teal-northern-shoveler-great-salt-lake-mia-mcpherson-3134.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/green-winged-teal-northern-shoveler-great-salt-lake-mia-mcpherson-3134.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/green-winged-teal-northern-shoveler-great-salt-lake-mia-mcpherson-3134.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/green-winged-teal-northern-shoveler-great-salt-lake-mia-mcpherson-3134.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":142842,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/04\/12\/blue-winged-teal-drake-at-four-corners-slough\/","url_meta":{"origin":75405,"position":1},"title":"Blue-winged Teal Drake At Four Corners Slough","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I'm sharing a few Blue-winged Teal drake photos that I took a couple of days ago at Four Corners Slough at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blue-winged Teal drake close up, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/blue-winged-teal-drake-spring-mia-mcpherson-4192.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/blue-winged-teal-drake-spring-mia-mcpherson-4192.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/blue-winged-teal-drake-spring-mia-mcpherson-4192.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/blue-winged-teal-drake-spring-mia-mcpherson-4192.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":172886,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2026\/03\/24\/pair-of-blue-winged-teal-on-a-log\/","url_meta":{"origin":75405,"position":2},"title":"Pair Of Blue-winged Teal On A Log","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"On my most recent trip to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I photographed a pair of Blue-winged Teal on a log in Miner's Cove in soft morning light.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pair of Blue-winged Teal on a log in early morning light, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/blue-winged-teal-pair-sequoyah-NWR-mia-mcpherson-1157.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/blue-winged-teal-pair-sequoyah-NWR-mia-mcpherson-1157.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/blue-winged-teal-pair-sequoyah-NWR-mia-mcpherson-1157.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/blue-winged-teal-pair-sequoyah-NWR-mia-mcpherson-1157.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7065,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/01\/10\/the-id-of-the-female-duck-is\/","url_meta":{"origin":75405,"position":3},"title":"The ID Of The Female Duck Is…","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 10, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The answer to the ID quiz is a female Green-winged Teal! Out of 49 people taking the quiz there were 6 votes for Mallard, 8 votes for Blue-winged Teal, 9 votes for Gadwall and 26 votes for Green-winged Teal.","rel":"","context":"In "Bird ID"","block_context":{"text":"Bird ID","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/bird-identification\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Green-winged Teal drake, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/green-winged-teal-drake-mia-mcpherson-8587.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/green-winged-teal-drake-mia-mcpherson-8587.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/green-winged-teal-drake-mia-mcpherson-8587.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/cinnamon-teal-drake-flight-mia-mcpherson-1957.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/cinnamon-teal-drake-flight-mia-mcpherson-1957.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/cinnamon-teal-drake-flight-mia-mcpherson-1957.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/cinnamon-teal-drake-flight-mia-mcpherson-1957.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57435,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/04\/25\/photographing-hen-and-drake-cinnamon-teals-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":75405,"position":5},"title":"Photographing Hen And Drake Cinnamon Teals At Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Later in the morning and on the other side of the auto tour route I was able to take images of a hen Cinnamon Teal surrounded by lush, green spring growth while her mate kept an eye on her from a distance.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hen Cinnamon Teal in lush spring growth, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cinnamon-teal-female-mia-mcpherson-4378.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/cinnamon-teal-female-mia-mcpherson-4378.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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