My Story

Stu the Black-bellied Whistling Duck is one of our well-known animal ambassadors and can be heard across the Sanctuary! Stu was raised by a local resident, who did a great job caring for him, but Stu’s whistling calls became too disruptive for nearby neighbors. The woman brought Stu to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, where our staff housed him with other ducks to “wild him up” and eventually released them all together.

It didn’t take long for Stu to find his way back to people. Stu was spotted at a garage sale, and then attending services at a local church. It was clear Stu had imprinted on humans and wouldn’t do well in the wild, so we brought him back to the Sanctuary.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks can be seen year-round in Florida. As their name suggests, the Black-bellied Whistling Duck is a boisterous, social bird with an unmistakable call.