HENDO —Hendo officials announced that 12 new Flock cameras have been installed throughout the county’s wildlife areas — including marshes, wetlands, riverbanks, and remote ponds — all dedicated to monitoring duck and geese flocks in their natural environments.
The cameras are intended to track migration patterns, flock behavior, and general bird activity. Early footage has already captured ducks “loafing with questionable intent” and several geese “staring down the cameras like they’re issuing a challenge.”
Officials also noted that the system will record band numbers of any tagged birds, giving researchers detailed movement data and helping them identify which ducks and geese are returning regularly and which ones are wandering off like they’re avoiding responsibilities.
But the announcement has sparked a new concern: hunters may try to use the cameras to determine ideal hunting times. While the county insists the system is strictly for wildlife observation, they admit the cameras do provide “very precise information” about when large groups of ducks and geese are present in certain areas.
Some residents have already joked that the cameras look suspiciously like “free scouting tools,” and there’s been chatter about whether the monthly “Flock Activity Reports” will include “peak honk hours” or “high‑traffic waddling periods.”
Despite the concerns, officials say the cameras will remain in place to continue documenting flock activity, goose aggression levels, and any birds caught committing minor infractions such as trespassing, disorderly honking, or blocking walking trails like they own them.
More cameras may be added if the geese “continue acting like they’re running the wetlands.”