Northern Shoveler feeding circle

Occasionally, Northern shovelers will work together and forage in a group, swimming in a pin-wheel like fashion to stir up the water. This causes small aquatic animals and vegetation particles to rise to the surface where the ducks will eat them. The shovelers’ diet consists of 40% aquatic vegetation and 60% small marine invertebrates. Video taken at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, California. February 9, 2014.