Unusual Nest of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

My brother and I had a great day on the water in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

The highlight was finding multiple Black-bellied nests on small islands in Lake Calcasieu.

Ground nesting on islands had been described decades ago in Texas. We think most nests are in boxes and tree cavities.

The smallest nest we found had 25 eggs, the one pictured below had 57.

The bird on the water flushed from that huge parasitic nest that clearly has eggs from many females.

-Frank