We have had a pair of Mandarins on our pond for the past six years. At
first, they stayed during the late fall and winter months, and disappeared
in the spring and summer; but last year, with the installation of duck
nestboxes near our other ponds, they stayed here, and the female hatched
three little ducklings. Unfortunately, she was not able to shield them
from predators, and did not bring them to maturity. Just not an
experienced mother, I guess. We have all sorts of predators -- crows,
raccoons, opossoms, hawks and coyotes. Even the Mallards lose many of
their ducklings, but enough make it to maturity to have a great number at
the cracked corn chow line each morning. This spring, we have two pairs of
Wood Ducks, and perhaps we will have some baby Wood Ducks. It is always
fascinating to observe the bird activity on our tree farm. We are also
looking forward to having Pileated Woodpecker hatchlings soon. They have a
nest hole in one of our alder snags.

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