A couple of weeks back, Bill was loading feed into the 4 Runner, which was carefully guarded by cookie loving dogs, and we got to talking about his duck hunting. Hunting of any kind isn't my favorite topic but I'm starting to understand the "food for the family" aspect.
I mentioned to Bill that all of my male Mallards, the drakes, have disappeared. For some reason I have a pond loaded with females, hens. He laughed. "No," he said, "you have just as many drakes as before."
Drakes in eclipse is what I had plenty of in my pond. After mating season, the drakes molt and lose their beautiful colorful plumage. The look just like the hens! Now, a real duck person can tell the difference. Thankfully, I can now consider myself a "real" duck person.
Bill told me to look at their bills. Drakes have yellow bills and hens have brownish/orange bills. Their feet also are a clue. The drakes have bright orange feet. Sure as the day is long, I have a pond with a healthy mix of drakes and hens!
In the last week or so the drakes have begun to get their colors back. It happens rather quickly. Now, aside from a few late bloomers, their heads are a magnificent shimmering green once again.
What a funny thing that happened at my pond. It's another lesson learned. It just doesn't stop.
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