April 6, 2010

Yearly Spring Visitors



This morning when I looked out at the pond through the front windows, I noticed a very large ripple circling outwards, a result of a large surface disturbance. And there was the cause: the pair of mallards that visit my small pond each spring had arrived. They spend only a few days here, never nesting; I imagine they don't feel safe enough. When I see them I wonder if they are the exact same ducks who were here last year, and the year before, or are descendants; it's part of the wonderful mystery of birds' migrations.

3 comments:

  1. We've had a pair of mallards visiting every spring since 1998. Also no way to know if it's the same ones, but I tell myself it is the same pair. They fly in and out til July 4th but don't nest here either.

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  2. Well, I looked up the mallard life span and found that they might live for as long as 16 years, but most die after only a year or two; so I suppose our ducks aren't the same ones year after year, Ms. Wis. It's nice to think they are, though.

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  3. What a treat to have repeat mallard visitors, whether the same or another couple..wonder how they know to come visit your pond.

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