pixmix.ca

GalleryNATUREBIRDSWATER BIRDSDabblers female Mallard stretching - just after mating

prev next

 This shot isn't as close as I'd like, but the story behind it is what made me want to keep it. We've seen birds do their mating bobs and weaves before, and caught a pair of Mallards completing their dance with mating a few weeks ago. This time, when we saw the male bobbing its head, then the female finally responding with head bobs as well, we knew what was coming.

 They were facing the wrong way though, and too far away to get anything - except her little finish. After he swam away, she puffed herself up and flapped - like she was clapping her hands saying that's done. Wow. And he just started circling her with his whole body, head and beak flat against the water. It was like he was doing victory laps around his prize.

 And now I've got a short clip of another pair of Mallards in the same activity. His finsh and hers, are both fun to watch.