The mallard -- the sweetheart of duckdom

I suspect that the first look at a mallard duck is a memorable one for most children. Upon first sight, I wondered, how can a bird, a duck even, be so beautiful? The male mallard with its iridescent green head, white neckline and blue wing feathers makes an unforgettable first impression. It is no doubt, in part due to its exquisiteness, that it has become the quintessential duck. Later, we are introduced to other amazing, even more colorful birds and ducks, like the wood duck, but for many the mallard is the first duck we see because of their commonality. They have been a favorite of artists and photographers in which they are magnificently depicted in watercolors, oil paintings and photographs throughout the ages. They are also the unfortunate favorite of hunters, proudly mounted in homes, dens and hunting lodges. Mallards are the ancestor of nearly all domesticated ducks. In fact, the Mexican duck and Hawaiian duck are both closely related to the mallard -- although the males lack the brilliant colors and look more like the female mallard. They also frequently hybridize with other ducks including the American black duck, mottled duck, gadwall and green-winged teal among others. The domestication of mallards took place thousands of years ago, further adding to the identification challenges of hybrids in the wild. They were bred in captivity for food, extenuating the most favorable genes. Those released into the wild can be promiscuous, scattering genes and physical characteristics. They can be a surprising visitor to suburban bird feeders, gobbling available seed and corn. We've had them at our feeders, swimming in a very small water feature and even hanging out on the roof of our house. I mentioned in a previous column that one pair of mallards were such regular visitors to our feeders and pond that we named them "The Smiths." For all the male's brilliance, the female is quite drab in a dull brown. Ode To Mr. Mallard by Caren Krutsinger Mr. Mallard Duck with your beautiful green head. You are shiny and awesome, and beautiful, and pretty well fed. I wonder if your mate, all brown and muted and plain, gets jealous of your colors? How could she refrain? However, that brown serves as nice camouflage as she incubates the eggs and cares for the ducklings. Mallards find their mates in the fall, but courtship may take place throughout the winter. As many as 15 eggs are laid in the spring and are incubated for about a month. The nests are placed on the ground, made of grass and feathers. A day after hatching, like many ducks, the ducklings are led to water where they adorably follow their mother around for about 60 days before they set off on their own. Mallards are strong fliers, reaching speeds of 55 miles per hour and can fly up to 800 miles in a night. While they can be seen locally year-round, most of our ducks migrate south in the winter, and we welcome those from the north. They are dabbling ducks with a diverse diet of aquatic invertebrates, small fish, crustaceans as well as rice, lawn clippings, seeds and insects. At the conclusion of breeding season, mallards shed their flight feathers for about 3-4 weeks. During this time, males and females look similar, and are vulnerable and try to remain out of sight of predators. Along the Atlantic coast, Mallards have the unique distinction as both a native and introduced species. Due to excessive hunting, their native populations decreased as much as 80 percent in the 17th century. According to the Chesapeake Bay Introduced Species Database, "This drastic decline due to extensive market hunting led to an effort by state fish and game departments and private individuals in the 1940s to replenish these birds through the release of nearly two million farm-reared birds. Not surprisingly the farmed birds did not behave the same way that the wild birds had. Many of these released birds begun breeding along the Atlantic Coast and in the forested areas previously inhabited only by black ducks." This introduction of the domestic mallards negatively affected the black duck. "While it is difficult to reclassify a native species as introduced, this is one of those rare cases in which the wild population was mostly wiped out and replaced with domesticated stocks whose behavior (winter migrant vs. year-round resident) has had an impact similar to other introduced species brought in from other areas. Their greatest impact has been to the Black Duck population through competition and hybridization," the report concluded. Today, mallards as a species are doing well thanks in part to the wetland restoration efforts. In 2016, 13.9 million breeding mallards were counted. Risks include habitat loss, lead poisoning, pesticides and, of course, hunters who shoot several million mallards every year. Migration - The Movie I was delighted to see previews of the new animated movie called "Migration." The film just happens to be about young mallard ducklings who try to convince their parents to go on vacation (a migration). The adventure is sure to be one of entertainment and danger. Voices include Elizabeth Banks, Danny DeVito and Keegan-Michael Key. The film will be released in theatres at Christmas and looks like a fun movie with perhaps a little perspective. It includes a soundtrack written and performed by Taylor Swift. Black River Audubon program "What's Happening at Sandy Ridge?" presented by Tyler McClain will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Sandy Ridge Reservation, 6195 Otten Road, North Ridgeville McClain, an avid and accomplished birder, herper (reptile and amphibian enthusiast) and naturalist, is the newest land steward at Sandy Ridge. He will present an update on what is happening at the reservation. Learn about the latest ongoing conservation efforts, including eliminating invasive species and reverting to native species. Discover ways you can create green spaces in your community and your very own backyard.