At 07:29 AM 4/28/97 -0700, Bill & Erin wrote:
> In the past we have considered ourselves fortunate to be visited by one
>or two Wood Ducks. This spring, Wood Ducks have been descending on us for
>several weeks. Last Friday, five males and three females graced the
>cracked-corn chowline at the pond out our kitchen window....snip...

Last year we started small as well and wound up with 20 males each day at
our feeders during the course of the summer (while the hens were setting)
with only an occasional hen. They flew in and out every morning and late
afternoon causing chaos in the duck pen. Our big Pekin drake was in a state
of constant anxiety trying to chase them all away from his territory.
Needless to say he never succeeded and would finally give up. Funny,
though, you'd think he'd finally give it up as a lost cause and stop trying
to chase them off.

The Scrub Jay pair nesting around the corner are appearing together now and
carrying off large quantities of sunflower seeds. I think they baby must
have hatched.

Peggi
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz 122 W, 37 N)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"