Photo by Pierce Foster & Three Rivers Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust has been organizing this event for several years now. The Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge is the winter home for thousands of migrating ducks and other waterfowl. Located on either side of the Pee Dee River downriver from Tillery Dam, the refuge floods cornfields in the fall in anticipation of the arrivals. From 1934 to 1975, the area was a private waterfowl refuge created by Lockhart and Hazel Gaddy. They provided a winter retreat for over 10,000 migrating James Bay Canada geese. Beginning with only 9 geese wintering in 1934, it grew to 10,000 by 1954. In the 1960s the US government began acquiring land in the area for the same purpose. Only a few Canadas winter here now but thousands of Mallards, Woodies and other ducks do visit.
Back when the Gaddy's operated the refuge, they were surrounded by commercial hunting enterprises. Known as "roast beef of the sky", geese were prized by hunters more then than now.
Photo by Pierce Foster & Three Rivers Land Trust
As we caravanned out on the levies between flooded fields, ducks became alarmed and rose up from the corn stalks. The last time I visited, once vehicles approached, the ducks took flight and headed elsewhere. Today, the ducks had no place to go due to there not being much open water. So, the ducks flew around and could only see frozen water. Thus, they headed back to the only open water which was where they had started from. We watched as thousands of ducks flew back and forth and finally disappeared back into the corn stalks.
Photo by Pierce Foster & Three Rivers Land Trust
On the levy
Flooded cornfield
All those small dots are ducks
I could make out some Mallards here but that was about it. I think the smaller ones were Wood ducks. We spent about an hour out on the levies. My feet were numb by that time. The temperature had warmed to about 25 by late morning.
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