Why Ducks are big on north Texas / Toxic birdseed?

Wood Duck (male)

Wood Ducks  (male, female)

Mallard & chicks

Wild Ducks, particularly Wood Ducks, must love north Texas. They love to eat acorns, and north Texas is naturally covered with Oak trees. Every fall, the Oaks produce millions and millions of delicious acorns.

Muscovy Duck

Nestboxes for ducks can be rewarding; just make sure they're protected from tree-climbing predators. Ideally, putting it on a tree over water, or on a small island, works well. In Texas, avoid plastic boxes - they get very hot here, and the inside temperature can kill the embryos in the eggs.

Scotts Miracle Gro Co. has agreed to plead guilty to charges in federal court and pay $4.5 million in fines in two incidents
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/01/27/scotts-to-pay-4-5m-in-fines.html
The complete article from the Columbus Dispatch can be read by pasting the above address into your browser. Or by doing an internet search using the words "Scotts  guilty  pesticide  fine"

The Scotts company, makers of Songbird Essentials, will plead guilty to violations including knowingly selling birdseed coated with toxic pesticide. Charges also included falsifying E.P.A. pesticide registration numbers on their products, although the E.P.A. hadn't cleared them.