Species Spotlight: North American Wood Duck

Species Spotlight: North American Wood Duck

Alex Levitskiy

Coinciding with the advent of spring, the breeding season has begun for many birds.  One of the species currently laying in my collection is the stunning North American Wood Duck (Aix sponsa).  As the name suggests, this species of duck is native to North America, which is a fairly large range.  The population of Wood Ducks is growing, so they are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, meaning they have a relatively low risk of extinction.  These ducks are common in the wild, and I have spotted Wood Ducks in our Central New York region on numerous occasions.  Similarly to their status in the wild, Wood Ducks are a common duck kept by aviculturists.  They are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as are many other native migratory species in the U.S., so one must obtain a license to own them.  This perching duck is much like the Mandarin Duck, both of which are great beginner birds and tree cavity nesters.  In captivity, an elevated Wood Duck style nest box is used to simulate those nesting conditions.

The male Wood Duck, a drake, is unmistakable.  The head is glossy green and accented with white stripes.  The breast is a chestnut and purple color, and their sides are mainly buff.  The female is mainly brown with a white speckled breast.  Wood Duck hens have white feathers around their eyes, this trait distinguishes them from the easy-to-confuse Mandarin Duck hens.  In captivity there are also numerous color mutations of the Wood Duck.  Some of those mutations that I own are the Silver Wood Duck, White Wood Duck, and Apricot Wood Duck.  Overall, the North American Wood Duck is a gorgeous duck that one can never tire of looking at.  

Wood Duck Drake

Silver Wood Duck Drake

Wood Duck Hen and Silver Wood Duck Drake

Silver Wood Duck Hen

Photo Credit: Alex Levitskiy

Join The Olympian

Join The Olympian

Kennedy George

The Olympian is one of the many extra curricular opportunities that Homer High School offers. While it may be overwhelming to choose what activity to participate in, one should keep in mind the many benefits there are in joining The Olympian. The Olympian is a school newspaper that is posted as a blog and all of the material posted is written by students. The Olympian provides students with the opportunity to explore and write about personal interests. Articles can be written on a plethora of subjects, such as sports, hobbies, school events, or even reviews on books or movies. Joining this club helps hone one’s writing skills and ability to communicate. It also allows one to help keep students and teachers of Homer High School informed of the events that take place in the school and community and exposed to new ideas and subjects. The Olympian is a good club for anyone, but especially someone who is interested in the media, writing, or becoming more involved in school. We meet ninth periods on Mondays in Mrs. Andersen’s room and will welcome anyone who wants to participate.

Andrew Jacobi: New York State Youth Governor

Andrew Jacobi: New York State Youth Governor

Kennedy George

The Youth and Government program has been enjoyed by countless of Homer High School students for many years. This year, at the state conference for Youth and Government, Homer’s district (District 6) had the honor of containing the member of the program who was elected as Youth Governor, Andrew Jacobi. This position is the highest position of the executive branch, which is the most exclusive branch of the program. The Olympian took advantage of the Youth Governor attending Homer High School and interviewed Andrew Jacobi about his new position and about his experience in Youth and Government.

Olympian: What will your responsibilities be as Youth Governor?

Jacobi: As Youth Governor, I will be the head student in charge of planning and running our annual conference in Albany and I will also decide whether or not delegates’ bills will pass.

Olympian: Why did you decide to run for governor?

Jacobi: I decided to run for governor so that I could help the program become more equal and so that I could become an influential leader in it.

Olympian: Do you plan to implement any new ideas to the program during your term?

Jacobi: Yes, I plan to alter the ways candidates can campaign in elections and I also plan to change certain procedures in the program.

Olympian: Why did you decided to join Youth and Government as a freshman.

Jacobi: I joined because I was interested in becoming a lawyer.

Olympian: If you could pick one attribute that you feel the program has best emphasized in you, what would it be?

Jacobi: I feel that Youth and Government has improved my leadership skills and has also given me the ability to speak my mind.

Olympian: Are you nervous to take on the position of Youth Governor?

Jacobi: Yes, but that’s just part of the role. I was also nervous to run my campaign for the position, it’s just the natural reaction. Despite this nervousness, I’m prepared for the challenge of this position.

Olympian: If someone were looking for advice on how to be as successful as you have been in the program, what would you tell them?

Jacobi: I would say that they key to success in Youth and Government is just putting in the work. I’m always trying to improve and I’m always consulting with my advisor, Ms. Giordano. Dedication is what will make you successful.

The level of success that Jacobi has reached in Youth and Government hasn't been seen in District 6 for many years and the district and community are ecstatic for him. The following year will be a busy year for Jacobi as he coordinates the program along with his other fifteen presiding officers that live across the state.  Jacobi, along with several other Youth and Government members, including Tighe Gugerty, Grace Gugerty, Jordan Laundry, and Kennedy George, were recently interviewed by the Cortland Standard about Youth and Government and his role in the program. District 6, as a whole, had a very successful year and is looking forward to riding that momentum towards an outstanding 2015-2016 session starting in the fall.

Book Use in the Library

Book Use in the Library

Tighe Gugerty

Ask yourself how much time you spend in front of the myriad of screens you use throughout the day. Does this detract from other endeavours you could partake in, such as reading a book? A recent article in Forbes pointed to a study by Scholastic’s Kids Reading and Writing Report that stated that 49% of children ages 6-17 are “infrequent readers,” those who read for fun one day of the week. Furthermore, a study from Common Sense Media compiled statistics from government research on reading with alarming results:

“According to government studies (NCES, 2013), since 1984 the proportion of tweens and teens who read for pleasure once a week or more has dropped from 81% to 76% among 9-year-olds, from 70% to 53% among 13-year-olds, and from 64% to 40% among 17-year-olds. The proportion who say they “never” or “hardly ever” read has gone from 8% of 13-year-olds and 9% of 17-year-olds in 1984 to 22% and 27% respectively today.”

This drop from the mid-eighties, the advent of mass computer technology, to now shows the possible correlation of increased screen time to children reading less. To gauge how much these national statistics have pervaded to the local level, The Homer Olympian talked to Mrs. Mann of the Homer High School Library. This is her first year as a librarian at Homer and she too has seen the lack of interest for literature. As it stands, the library has approximately 1000 to 1200 total transactions a month. Of these transactions, 1000 (83%) on average are from students and classes borrowing Chromebooks while 150-200 (17%) are for the borrowing of books. This amount of book borrowing is roughly equivalent to that of last year, but Mrs. Mann is striving to increase the number of books taken out. She has had prior success in increasing transactions in her previous school, increasing the number of books taken out four-fold, and has revamped the layout of the library to be more inviting to would be readers; the fiction section has been moved and made more open to allow greater access and the nonfiction has also been moved. Mrs. Mann is receptive to student ideas for how to entice the more than 3000 students that sign into the library a month to get hooked on reading; she hopes to inspire reading through the library since much of fictional literature is cut from the new statewide curriculum. With bright eyes looking forward, Mrs. Mann hopes to make reading commonplace in students who are constantly bombarded by the onslaught of technology.

Works Cited

Children, Teens, and Reading Rideout, Victoria. “Children, Teens and

Reading”  Common Sense (2007): 1-26. Common Sense Media. Web. 14  April 2015. <https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/children-teens-and-reding>.

Shapiro, Jordan. “Ordinary Kids Read As Infrequently As Ordinary Adults: Less Than 5 Books

Per Year.” Forbes. Forbes, Inc. 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.

Species Spotlight: Cinnamon Teal

Species Spotlight: Cinnamon Teal

Alex Levitskiy

This week’s featured species is the Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera).  There are five subspecies of this duck. One of these subspecies, the Northern Cinnamon Teal, is kept in captivity here in New York.  The subspecies closely resemble one another, with their size being the main differentiating feature.  The drakes of this species have a chestnut red coloring over the majority of their body and their eyes are a vivid red color.  The male Cinnamon Teal also has a striking green speculum, which complements the blue feathers on the top of its wings.  Both sexes have an attractive patch of blue feathers, which are most easily seen when they are in flight or preening.  The males have orange legs, and the females have slightly more drab legs.  Hens closely resemble Blue-Winged Teal, and are an overall brown color.  Care should be taken if housing Cinnamon Teal and Blue-Winged Teal together because these species will successfully hybridize.  

The Northern Cinnamon Teal presents no challenges to breed in captivity.  This is a good species of Teal to begin with, especially before getting into the species that prove to be more challenging to raise.  The hens lay nine to eleven eggs which are incubated for roughly twenty-five days.  The ducklings are small but easy to care for.  They will mature and be ready to breed by one year of age.  Cinnamon Teal generally acquire their breeding plumage in late fall or early winter, which is later than most waterfowl.  

Cinnamon Teal Drake

Cinnamon Teal Drake

Cinnamon Teal Trio, with the hen in the foreground

(All of the above pictures were taken by Alex Levitskiy)