Good Morning Tweets,

The Mandarin Duck pair is continuing to visit our pond and mingle with
the Mallards for the cracked corn handout. They vary their itinerary and
arrive in the morning some days and in the afternoons other days. They
will rest on the lawn around the pond or preen on the plank that serves as
a duck launching ramp. Several days ago just at dusk when the light was
too dim to make a true identification, we saw 2 female ducks that looked
like Mandarin females but we could not be sure, perhaps they were Wood
Duck females. But on Thursday 3/26/98 we made a positive identification.
There are now THREE female Mandarin ducks with the one Male Mandarin
Drake, all vying for his attention. He successfully chases off any Mallard
that gets too close to his harem.
We still have no idea where these Mandarins come from but are happy to
accept and enjoy their presence.

Bill and Erin Woods Woods Tree Farm Redmond, WA U.S.A.
<wwwbike at halcyon.com>