Subject: Mandarin Ducks
Date: Dec 29 09:18:15 1999
From: W. William Woods - wwwbike at halcyon.com
For several years a male Mandarin Duck plus two or more females have
visited a pond on our tree farm in the fall of the year and remained off
and on through the winter, always disappearing when spring arrived. In
1998 they visited for just a few days in September. So far in 1999 they
have postponed their visitation until the morning of December 27,
appearing as a colorful apparition on a fog-shrouded pond. Again yesterday
and today they joined the dozens of Mallards on the cracked-corn chowline
provided them soon after daybreak. Also joining them are a pair of Wigeon,
and a pair of Hooded Mergansers diving for food on the (now) ice-free
pond. Once again, the Mallards have done a terriffic job, acting as live
decoys to attract the exciting visitors.
Where do these Mandarins come from? They appear to be wild, and wear no
leg bands. We have never seen wild Mandarins nor heard reports of these
ducks anywhere else in western Washington. This is a mystery begging to be
solved.
Bill and Erin Woods Woods Tree Farm Redmond, WA U.S.A.
<wwwbike at halcyon.com>