Sniffing out birds at the sewage plant

"Hon, I'm off to the sewage-treatment plant."

I bet you don't hear that line at your house, but my spouse is used to it. Oh, yes, she thinks I'm nuts, but at least she trusts I am not making it up. You see, birders — and their partners — know that water-treatment facilities are great places to see birds.

Winston-Salem's Archie Elledge Wastewater Treatment Plant has three large retention ponds. In winter months, ducks and other waterfowl move in from the north and find lots of food in the shallow, nutrient-laden water so long as it remains unfrozen. It's not clear to me how healthy it is for them, but they apparently show no short-term effects.

Canada geese, mallards and a few wood ducks hang around the ponds all year. This time of year, however, the mallard population can swell to 200 or more. In addition, it is common to see an additional eight or nine duck species on any day from December to March. And, in any winter season, a regular visitor could see more than 20 types of duck or other water bird.

Dabbling ducks especially like these shallow ponds. Mallards are dabblers, feeding at the surface or tipping over to eat with heads submerged and tails pointing skyward. Often mixed in with our familiar mallards are a few of their close cousins, American black ducks. They easily are mistaken for female mallards, but they are darker with a yellow, not orange, bill.

The green-winged teal is another frequent visitor to Archie Elledge. This is our smallest duck. Males have beautiful green and cinnamon heads and a white stripe in front of their wings. Except in flight, the green wing patch on both sexes might be hard to see. Other dabblers include blue-winged teal, gadwall, American wigeon, northern shoveler and northern pintail. Shovelers use their large flat bills to strain food items. Pintails are recognized by their pointed tails and long necks. Unfortunately, these handsome birds are scarce here. They prefer the Alligator River and Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife refuges in eastern North Carolina.

Diving ducks search for food by swimming underwater. They might travel many yards before resurfacing. Buffleheads and ring-necked ducks are our most common diving ducks. Like teals, buffleheads are small. Males are dressed in white on their head and their flanks, while less-conspicuous females have only a white teardrop behind the eye. You won't notice the neck on a ring-necked duck. Instead, look for the white ring on the bill and pale flanks that contrast with a dark head, chest and back.

Of other diving ducks, lesser scaups are the most common. Greater scaup, canvasback, redhead and common goldeneye are infrequent visitors. In 2009, Archie Elledge became the focus of Carolina birders, when a tufted duck from Europe made that species' first documented appearance in the Southeast. Hooded mergansers and ruddy ducks, or stiff tails, also are seen but are more numerous at larger Salem Lake.

Winter at Archie Elledge is not all about the waterfowl. Several types of sparrows search for seeds and insects in scrubby habitat around old drying bins. And, at least five raptor species prowl the area. American kestrel, Cooper's hawk and sharp-shinned hawk prey primarily on the sparrows or other small birds, while red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks search for rodents. In a nearby shed on the premises, ravens begin their nesting period. Wild turkeys also are regularly seen near the bins.

Archie Elledge is an operating facility that must remain secure. Although access is limited, the staff has worked with Forsyth Audubon to set guidelines for bird-watchers. The facility, which is located at 2801 Griffith Road, is open for birding on Saturdays, but you must register and enter between 8 and 9 a.m. Also, local birders may apply in person to obtain passes to enter on weekdays with one day's notice by phone. Park in the designated area by the ponds and stay on that side of Salem Creek. On cold days at least, the odor is minimal.