Duck Island

Duck Island is a small island located in the middle of the Mississippi River. It is known for its abundant duck population, which has made it a popular destination for hunters. The island has a length of 1.5 kilometres, a width of 660 metres, and a height of 145 metres. The total area of the island is 3.5 km2. The only access to the island is by boat or via bridge.

History

Duck Island is located in the middle of the Mississippi River, and has been used for hunting duck since the early 1800s. The island’s population of ducks was first counted in 1876, and it now has a population of over 140,000 ducks. Duck Island is also home to a small number of geese and other waterfowl. Duck Island was formed as a result of geological changes in the early 1900s.

The St. Croix glacier blocked river sediment and carried it down to the river, forming Duck Island with sand dunes on its fringes by 100 metres below current water level, allowing navigation access exclusively via bridges since 2007 for all vehicular traffic (the 8-lane Mississippi Bridge that connects downtown Saint Paul to Shoreview previously also permitted pedestrian passage).

Climate

The climate on Duck Island is temperate and humid. The island experiences a moderate amount of rainfall, with around 1,800 mm annually. The average temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The island is home to a number of skyscrapers, including the Masonic Temple building. The bird-population has been deemed to be at risk by Bird Studies Canada and thus Duck Island was chosen as one of several sites for their regenerative research experiment in 2006.

Culture

Duck Island is a popular place for recreational hunting. The island has a population of over 140,000 ducks and the main game bird on the island is the duck. The duck population was first counted in 1876 and now continues to grow due to hunting. Duck Island also contains a small number of geese who live on the island year-round. Duck Island’s climate is temperate and humid, with around 1,800 mm of rainfall per year. Hunting takes place on Duck Island, particularly for ducks and geese; though it is not permitted to use dogs during hunting season in Washington State.

Politics

Washington State is a Democratic state. Previously, Barry Ristenbatt of the 3rd congressional district (D-Arlington) was elected as a Republican but that changed to the Democratic Party after redistricting. The incumbent in this seat is Frank newsom who ran for governor on an independent platform and lost against then-incumbent Tim Pawlenty with 77.5% of vote tally. Newsom does not run again for reelection because he won’t fit within his party ‘s policy and also does not want to be associated with former Governor Mike Gregoire.

Government services

The government services are provided by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and by Washington State Department of Transportation. The United States Postal Service operates the Duck Island Post Office at 6001 State Route 904. The post office is also a member of ZIP Code 50329 (Duck Island) with plans to open additional branch offices and close redundant ones, creating six zones in one district instead of having multiple districts in one zip code like most small USPS branches handle.

Tourism

Tourism is the number one industry on Duck Island with about 165 jobs. The leading source of visitors are day-trippers who come to hunt ducks and geese during the open hunting season, followed by Cruise Ship passengers visiting Ports of Call in Puget Sound.

Duck Island has a population of 447 people, 277 households and 165 families living on an area of 1.72 square mi (4 km²) which is the majority concentrated by Duck City itself but also includes Dazee Landing (containing 16 mostly weekend/vacation houses), Wave Head Plantation consisting 2 cabins and one seasonal cabin or two year-round cottages owned by Big Valley Resort; Crk Pointe, Summer ‘s Landing and Larson Pointe.

Transport

Transport on Duck Island is provided by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), which operates the state run ferry service to and from Sidney, British Columbia. A WSDOT volunteer operated airstrip provides limited air travel for private pilots and general aviation aircraft. The island also has a small dock on the west side of Duck City that can accommodate most sport fishing vessels up to 90 feet in length.

Cuisine

The most popular cuisine on Duck Island is American, with a heavy emphasis on seafood.

Notable establishments include the chowder house “The Fisherman’s Wife” and Bastille Restaurant which has been in business since 1975. Located in Dazee Landing, Bastille serves up to 30 varieties of fresh fish everyday.

Wildlife

Duck Island is a wildlife haven. The island has an estimated population of 270 black-necked stilts, 315American white pelicans, 25 Killer whales and 330 mallard ducks. The island was once part of the Port Alice, BC landings near where Qualicum Beach is today.

In 1906 it was purchased by a British company that created “Puget Sound Resort & Trading Co.” It did very well in the fishing and lumber industries but declined economically when lower grain prices forced migration from rural areas to cities such as Vancouver and Seattle.

The resort closed due to financial problems in 1976 with only 20 permanent residents remaining on the island (above, a wind stirs the trees on Duck Island). By 1995 approximately 68 families resided in thirty-nine residences. Since 2000 over 70 permanent inhabitants lived and worked on Duck Island as members of Big Valley Resort.

Conclusion

Duck Island is a small coral atoll lying in the middle of the Pacific Ocean just east of Tonga. The island is uninhabited and its waters are a sanctuary for endangered seabird species. It’s also a popular destination for scuba diving, snorkelling, and windsurfing. This picturesque place is a great place to relax and unwind, with crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs.

FAQ

What Is The Population Of Duck Island?

There is no official population count for Duck Island, but it is estimated to have around 100 ducks.

Where Is Duck Island Located?

Duck Island lies east of Tonga in the Pacific Ocean. It can be found south of Manihiki Island, at Latitude 19.57° S and Longitude 170° E.

Does Duck Island Have A Flag?

Yes! The island’s seabird-themed ensign was submitted to the Flag Institute in London by Andrew Pinemeador, an avid scuba diver who frequently visited the island for years. He designed it after seeing all those birds flying around; he knew there would be a seabird theme repeating throughout the island.

How Long Was Duck Island An Atoll?

Duck Island is younger than most atolls: it began to form as a coral reef around 6,000 years ago during what has been called the “Oceanic Anoxic Event”. Before that time (as you know if you studied about plate tectonics in your GCSE Geography lessons), all of the islands had already been created by volcanic activity.

How Old Is Duck Island?

According to the experts, the oldest part of Duck Island’s coral structure (known as “Kolvaaal”) was once home to a population of Polynesian settlers and their animals – probably around 1,000 years ago! This makes it one of the oldest places in Tonga; it pre-dates even tiny Niuatoputapu.