The Rites of Spring

(Photos: 1-- Brad,[right] feeling the hormones and staking out territory.  2-- Buster, marching proudly last night after grabbing wad of down from visiting, migratory goose.

 

Most people,  when wanting to know weather predictions check the local news.

 

I only have to look at the ducks and geese.

 

Because regardless of the current temperatures or conditions, behavior of the waterfowl tells me what the weather is going to be in coming days.

 

So it was, Monday night....

 

Temperatures had taken a dive to the mid 20's and wind gusts were blustering at 25 MPH.  It seemed far more like a night in mid January than the early part of March.

 

But, unlike the dark, bitter days of January when ducks and geese are primarily concerned with creating and maintaining open water (i.e. constant swimming and dunking in the water to prevent icing), Monday night, their minds were obviously on other things.

 

Especially, Brad, the Rouen, domestic duck and headstrong leader of the "three duckateers."

 

Seemingly nonchalant about food and unconcerned about possible icing of the lake, Brad instead eyed a pretty, female mallard in the water and suddenly took after her.

 

I stood on the lake embankment and watched in horror as Brad chased, caught up to and pinned down under the water, the much smaller mallard.

 

"Brad, Brad, stop it!  Leave her alone!  What are you doing?"

 

Brad paid absolutely no mind to my pleas to halt the assault on the mallard.  Instead, he continued to push down and jump on the female duck in what appeared an attempt to drown or "rape" at worst -- or bully and intimidate at best.

 

There was nothing I could do as the birds were too far away in the water.

 

I was of course reminded of when Brad used to attack Joey, the white Pekin duck in similar fashion.  But, Joey was larger than Brad and always managed after a few minutes to escape.

 

But, I didn't know if the smaller mallard could break free. Eventually, I turned away from looking.  It was just too awful.

 

A part of me panicked thinking that the mallard might be Chrissy, the back-injured mallard.  But, Chrissy was safely by the water's edge beseeching food.

 

After what seemed an eternity, Brad finally let the mallard go (or she escaped) and she went flying across the water.

 

Brad then returned like some proud warrior to his two charges, Piggly and Wiggly who were still grabbing sunflower seeds on the grass.

 

Two days later, I am still not sure what that whole scene was about.

 

It seems once again, that with the blast of cold weather (Sunday and Monday), a number of new migratory geese and mallards flew into and stopped at Harlem Meer.

 

I am not sure if Brad was being "territorial" by attacking one of the migratory ducks or whether this was a mating behavior.

 

One would think that were Brad to mate with any of the ducks, it would be Wiggly (pictured) who is both a domestic duck (like himself) in addition to being a member of his flock.

 

But, I am not exactly sure of the mating behaviors of ducks, as I am geese.  Ducks just seem to be far more promiscuous than geese.  (And of course, mother mallards raise ducklings by themselves, whereas in geese, both parents raise the young.)

 

One thing for sure however.  If Brad did successfully mate with the mallard than any offspring will be hybrids between a domestic duck and wild mallard.  It will be interesting to see what transpires over the next six weeks or so.  For sure, if we see any strange looking ducklings, I will be looking to Brad as the culprit.

 

But, of course it isn't only Brad acting "territorial" and belligerent in this now quick march up to spring. 

 

Buster, the lead gander of Harlem Meer has been downright obnoxious to the visiting, migratory geese.

 

Although Buster and his gaggle came to greet me last night in their usual fashion, Buster only took a couple of handfuls of treat and then, (like Brad) turned his attention to the family of geese quietly standing on the grass about ten feet away.

 

He immediately went after the nearest goose, chased him (or her) in the water and grabbed a large wad of down in his mouth in the process.

 

Supremely proud of having snatched the down, Buster then pranced around with head high in the air, holding on to the down in his beak for at least five minutes!   It was as if to announce to every new goose on the lake, "Here, here!  You see this!!!  THIS is what happens to you if you tread on OUR territory!"

 

The family of migratory geese apparently got the message.  All five of them left the grass immediately and peacefully swam away in the water.

 

And so yes, we may had a few very cold days recently.

 

But, I didn't need to hear a weather prediction to know it is about to warm up quickly and significantly for the rest of the week.

 

The wind may have been rustling feathers and the temperatures may have plunged to typical January readings.

 

But, to Brad, Buster and all the other birds, it was the Rites of Spring only a day or two away.  -- PCA

 

 

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