Water off a (Pacific Black) Duck's Back

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Water off a (Pacific Black) Duck's Back

[Public Domain] 14 Apr 2006 Dylan O'Donnell
CATEGORY : Species
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When preening, ducks and geese pull their feathers through their bill, creating an interlocking effect across the feather not unlike velcro, that creates a water-repelling layer. Further to this, at the duck’s rump exists a preen gland the duck will rub with its head, and then distribute the gland oil evenly across the rest of it’s body. In extremely wet conditions if the feathers become water logged, or saturated, the duck can develop a condition called “wet feather” extending to its down layer preventing flight and causing the bird’s general health to deteriorate in many ways.

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