Hello Tweeters,
I'm new to the list and was just planning to be a low-key backyard birder
with feeders of black sun seed, thistle, and suet until Friday a pair of
Mandarin ducks arrived to stay. Have added ground feeding mix for them and,
if they leave during the day, they now return like clockwork by 6 PM so my
guess is they've chosen one of the tall trees by my stream in which to nest.
Having researched Mandarins on the net, I found there were about 20 breeding
pairs in Sonoma County a few years ago, thought to be escapees from breeders
and that Mandarins aren't accepted as being a wild species in the US. My
question is - where did these come from - no local breeders found of
Mandarins - and at what point will they be recognized as wild residents
here, e.g., if their chicks survive or if they themselves return to nest
here again next year? Any thoughts? Regardless of what we think, these two
seem to be having a great time "living wild"!

Christine

Christine Giannini
Everett, WA
mail to: c.giannini2 at verizon.net