Wood Duck Air Pivot
This male wood duck was a bit agitated because an Anhinga was sitting on the top of the palm where the Wood Ducks had established their nest. He began to fly toward the nest, apparently hoping to drive the Anhinga away, but gauged its size and thought better of it. This image shows his decision to turn away. There’s nothing like a strong maternal instinct. The hen, after waiting for what seemed an interminable period of time, finally had the courage to fly right under the Anhinga, straight into the next. That was no small feat. The opening of the palm was small and when she entered it when it wasn’t encumbered by a big old Anhinga, she would awkwardly land on the lip of the palm and sometimes fall when getting inside. Good Mom! Just to give the Anhinga’s side of the equation, this palm was its normal perch used to dry off its wings, long before these annoying Wood Ducks showed up. Why should he leave, he was there first! Anyway, the whole episode gave me and several other photographers a lot of entertainment as we watched the nesting play out. In the end, as I previously posted, a mixed brood of Wood Ducks and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks made it into the world. Small chicks lead a perilous existence and have hopefully survived. Momma Wood Duck has kept them secreted away and to my knowledge they’ve been out of sight since the hatching. Good luck little guys! (Aix sponsa) (Sony a1, 70-200 lens with a 1.4 extender shot at 269mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 second, ISO 1600)
Wood Duck Air Pivot
This male wood duck was a bit agitated because an Anhinga was sitting on the top of the palm where the Wood Ducks had established their nest. He began to fly toward the nest, apparently hoping to drive the Anhinga away, but gauged its size and thought better of it. This image shows his decision to turn away. There’s nothing like a strong maternal instinct. The hen, after waiting for what seemed an interminable period of time, finally had the courage to fly right under the Anhinga, straight into the next. That was no small feat. The opening of the palm was small and when she entered it when it wasn’t encumbered by a big old Anhinga, she would awkwardly land on the lip of the palm and sometimes fall when getting inside. Good Mom! Just to give the Anhinga’s side of the equation, this palm was its normal perch used to dry off its wings, long before these annoying Wood Ducks showed up. Why should he leave, he was there first! Anyway, the whole episode gave me and several other photographers a lot of entertainment as we watched the nesting play out. In the end, as I previously posted, a mixed brood of Wood Ducks and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks made it into the world. Small chicks lead a perilous existence and have hopefully survived. Momma Wood Duck has kept them secreted away and to my knowledge they’ve been out of sight since the hatching. Good luck little guys! (Aix sponsa) (Sony a1, 70-200 lens with a 1.4 extender shot at 269mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 second, ISO 1600)