Ducks in a tree? 

     MCWA members and teen community service volunteers from Nolensville High School’s UNICEF Club retrieved loads of trash and debris from the creek’s beautiful headwaters during an October 17th stream clean-up. In fact, the Saturday morning event was so successful that the team decided to move downstream for another clean-up day on November 7th at Culbertson Road in Davidson County’s Cane Ridge Community. Mill Creek Watershed Association Members were joined by Cane Ridge Community Club Director, Twana Chick, Metro Nashville’s Beautification and Environment Commission Representative, Jo Crowe and council member, John Rutherford (District 31) and council member Joy Styles (District 32).  Cane Ridge Community member Pat Champlin, who built many of the bird houses along the Mill Creek Greenway, showed up early with snacks, water, and bracelets he designed in appreciation of the clean-up crew.  On that beautiful morning, MCWA members and volunteers piled trash from the creek along the side of Culbertson road, to be collected by sanitation crews. As MCWA members worked along the road, drivers stopped to express sincere gratitude for the hard work and attention on behalf of those who rely on the Mill Creek Greenway as a therapeutic source of peace, relaxation, recreation and nature.  Our Greenway also provides a much-needed respite for the network of animals and indigenous plants who rely on The Mill Creek Watershed as their refuge from urban development, and in many cases, for their very survival.

  One delightful discovery by members of our Association during the October 17th clean-up near Brittain Lane in Nolensville was a Wood Duck house nestled in the crook of a magnificent tree limb over the flowing creek.

     On a typical day around Mill Creek, you may encounter one of our gregarious Mallard friends, but shy Wood Ducks are not as easy to spot. Mill Creek Watershed Association member and retired Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency Aquatic Education Program Coordinator, Patricia Miller, shared fascinating facts about Wood Ducks with the October 17th clean-up crew.  Wood Ducks are one of the few duck species that nest in trees over streams. They have strong claws for gripping tree bark and perching. Wood Ducks sometimes nest in human-built house-shaped boxes, like the one the clean-up crew found near Brittain Lane. According to Cornell University Ornithology’s e-Bird tracker, Nolensville is considered a hot spot for Wood Duck sightings. In 2020, there were 36 Wood Duck sightings along the Nolensville Greenway reported on Cornell’s site, compared with hundreds of Mallard sightings during the same timeframe.

     Cornell University’s “All About Bird’s” website tells us that Mallards nest on the ground close to water. You can recognize a male Mallard with its brightly colored orange beak and vivid hunter-green head and dark red breast. Wood Ducks are similarly colored, but even more stunning than Mallards, as the males look like they’re wearing an iridescent chestnut and green helmet with contrasting white stripes, and ornate patterns on nearly every feather. Female Wood Ducks are less colorful, with light and dark brown feathers, and a delicate white pattern around the eye. Both male and female Mallards have a line of royal blue feathers with white trim at the base of the wings. You can hear what Wood Ducks and Mallards sound like at Cornell’s “All About Birds website”: www.allaboutbirds.org.   

      According to the Nature Mapping foundation, both Mallards and Wood Ducks are mainly vegetarian. They feed on aquatic plants, seeds, nuts and fruits. They also eat insects, snails, tadpoles, salamanders and other crustaceans, such as crayfish. Mallards eat grass seeds, pond weeds, and other water plants and even frogs. Both Wood Ducks and Mallards are "dabbling" ducks and search for food while swimming.  

Ducks are among many species in the Mill Creek Watershed whose well-being depends on the maintenance of a healthy and diverse aquatic and riparian ecosystem. All species within the Mill Creek Watershed depend on humans to speak on their behalf. We can do this by participating in MCWA sponsored events and community forums regarding potential development along the creek.  We can also attend public education events about the importance of our role in preserving our watershed and keeping it clean, and then we can help spread the word. 

        The Mill Creek Watershed contains a delicate ecosystem, consisting of two endangered species, the Nashville Crayfish, and the Stream-side Salamander.  Our Mill Creek Watershed houses 68 of Tennessee’s Greatest Conservation Need Species as defined by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.   The Mill Creek Watershed Association intervenes on behalf of this Exceptional Tennessee Waterway, bringing in smart holistic growth solutions that protect our economy by preserving our most valuable natural resource for future generations. No time to volunteer right now? You can advocate for these amazing critters by simply donating to the Mill Creek Watershed Association. Please join us at: 

https://www.millcreekwatershedassociation.org/take-action