View allAll Photos Tagged Dabble
the duck swimming alone strikes me as a little strange looking but that could just be my own thing ?
A Eurasian wigeon dabbles for food in the Mill Pond in Marstons Mills, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on November 7, 2009.
Photo by Joseph F. Cavanaugh III, Esq.
FORBES & CAVANAUGH
Participants dabble in chemistry building and shooting micro-rockets in a lab at the Oregon State University Cascades Discover Day Saturday Oct. 13, 2018 in Bend, Oregon.
Rob Kerr Photography / @robkerr6 2018 Discovery Day. Photos by Rob Kerr.
The Mallard (/ˈmælɑrd/ or /ˈmælərd/) or Wild Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae.
The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on wings and belly, while the females have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are gregarious. This species is the ancestor of most breeds of domestic ducks.
The Mallard is a medium-sized waterfowl species although is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks. It is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long (of which the body makes up around two-thirds), has a wingspan of 81–98 cm (32–39 in), and weighs 0.72–1.58 kg (1.6–3.5 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 25.7 to 30.6 cm (10.1 to 12.0 in), the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm (1.7 to 2.4 in) and the tarsus is 4.1 to 4.8 cm (1.6 to 1.9 in). The breeding male Mallard is unmistakable, with a glossy bottle-green head and white collar which demarcates the head from the purple-tinged brown breast, grey brown wings, and a pale grey belly. The rear of the male is black, with the dark tail having white borders. The bill of the male is a yellowish orange tipped with black while that of the female is generally darker ranging from black to mottled orange. The female Mallard is predominantly mottled with each individual feather showing sharp contrast from buff to very dark brown, a coloration shared by most female dabbling ducks, and has buff cheeks, eyebrow, throat and neck with a darker crown and eye-stripe. Both male and female Mallards have distinct iridescent purple blue speculum feathers edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest, though temporarily shed during the annual summer moult. Upon hatching, the plumage colouring of the duckling is yellow on the underside and face (with streaks by the eyes) and black on the backside (with some yellow spots) all the way to the top and back of the head. Its legs and bill are also black. As it nears a month in age, the duckling's plumage will start becoming drab, looking more like the female (though its plumage is more streaked) and its legs will lose their dark grey colouring. Two months after hatching, the fledgling period has ended and the duckling is now a juvenile. Between three to four months of age, the juvenile can finally begin flying as its wings are fully developed for flight (which can be confirmed by the sight of purple speculum feathers). Its bill will soon lose its dark grey colouring and its sex can finally be distinguished by three factors. The bill colouring is yellow in males, black and orange for females. The breast feathers are reddish-brown for males, brown for females. The centre tail feather is curled for males (called a drake feather), straight for females.
During the final period of maturity leading up to adulthood (6–10 months of age), the plumage of female juveniles remains the same while the plumage of male juveniles slowly changes to its characteristic colours. This plumage change also applies to adult Mallard males when they transition in and out of their non-breeding eclipse plumage at the beginning and the end of the summer moulting period. The adulthood age for Mallards is 14 months and the average life expectancy is 20 years.
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Early Spring as small shallow wetland open large numbers of dabbling duck and geese species can be seen in the open shallow wetlands. Huron Wetland Management District in east Central South Dakota. Photo: Sandra Uecker\USFWS
dabbling in more pinhole work. a moment (4min) in the Leo Albert Road. pinhole cam #2 (now no longer since Fred decided to eat it)
The Mallard (/ˈmælɑrd/ or /ˈmælərd/) or Wild Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae.
The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on wings and belly, while the females have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are gregarious. This species is the ancestor of most breeds of domestic ducks.
The Mallard is a medium-sized waterfowl species although is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks. It is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long (of which the body makes up around two-thirds), has a wingspan of 81–98 cm (32–39 in), and weighs 0.72–1.58 kg (1.6–3.5 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 25.7 to 30.6 cm (10.1 to 12.0 in), the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm (1.7 to 2.4 in) and the tarsus is 4.1 to 4.8 cm (1.6 to 1.9 in). The breeding male Mallard is unmistakable, with a glossy bottle-green head and white collar which demarcates the head from the purple-tinged brown breast, grey brown wings, and a pale grey belly. The rear of the male is black, with the dark tail having white borders. The bill of the male is a yellowish orange tipped with black while that of the female is generally darker ranging from black to mottled orange. The female Mallard is predominantly mottled with each individual feather showing sharp contrast from buff to very dark brown, a coloration shared by most female dabbling ducks, and has buff cheeks, eyebrow, throat and neck with a darker crown and eye-stripe. Both male and female Mallards have distinct iridescent purple blue speculum feathers edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest, though temporarily shed during the annual summer moult. Upon hatching, the plumage colouring of the duckling is yellow on the underside and face (with streaks by the eyes) and black on the backside (with some yellow spots) all the way to the top and back of the head. Its legs and bill are also black. As it nears a month in age, the duckling's plumage will start becoming drab, looking more like the female (though its plumage is more streaked) and its legs will lose their dark grey colouring. Two months after hatching, the fledgling period has ended and the duckling is now a juvenile. Between three to four months of age, the juvenile can finally begin flying as its wings are fully developed for flight (which can be confirmed by the sight of purple speculum feathers). Its bill will soon lose its dark grey colouring and its sex can finally be distinguished by three factors. The bill colouring is yellow in males, black and orange for females. The breast feathers are reddish-brown for males, brown for females. The centre tail feather is curled for males (called a drake feather), straight for females.
During the final period of maturity leading up to adulthood (6–10 months of age), the plumage of female juveniles remains the same while the plumage of male juveniles slowly changes to its characteristic colours. This plumage change also applies to adult Mallard males when they transition in and out of their non-breeding eclipse plumage at the beginning and the end of the summer moulting period. The adulthood age for Mallards is 14 months and the average life expectancy is 20 years.
CameraCanon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens : EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS II USM Macro
Exposure0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperturef/2.8
Focal Length100 mm
ISO Speed100
Exposure Bias0 EV
FlashOff, Did not fire
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas / Massapequa Preserve, also known as the Peter J. Schmitt Preserve, is 423 acres of land located in the center of Massapequa, an unincorporated Hamlet within the Town of Oyster Bay, beginning at the intersection of Ocean Ave. and Merrick Road. These undeveloped acres of land feature woodlands, lakes, and freshwater wetlands that border Massapequa Creek and stretch for about 4 miles. Massapequa Preserve is the largest passive use park in Nassau County; its beauty is maintained by several volunteer groups and organizations that work to maintain the natural ecosystems in the area. Massapequa Preserve was originally part of the New York City water supply property and was acquired by Nassau County in 1981. Currently, it is being managed by the Nassau County Department of Recreation and Parks. Massapequa Preserve offers multiple small bodies of water to explore, including a reservoir. The Massapequa Reservoir is known to be a popular fishing spot and may be the most heavily fished pond on Long Island. This is due to the routine stocking of trout that happens twice a year. Massapequa Reservoir is stocked with brown and rainbow trout in the spring and fall which draw crowds of people around these times. Other common fish to catch in the Massapequa Reservoir include Largemouth Bass, Trout, Sunnies, Carp, Catfish, and Pickerel. Local fishers enjoy the easily accessible bodies of water.
Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas and Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas and Canada geese (Branta canadensis), a large wild goose species with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body; it is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America and the Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator), a species of swan found in North America / / Massapequa Preserve, also known as the Peter J. Schmitt Preserve, is 423 acres of land located in the center of Massapequa, an unincorporated Hamlet within the Town of Oyster Bay, beginning at the intersection of Ocean Ave. and Merrick Road. These undeveloped acres of land feature woodlands, lakes, and freshwater wetlands that border Massapequa Creek and stretch for about 4 miles. Massapequa Preserve is the largest passive use park in Nassau County; its beauty is maintained by several volunteer groups and organizations that work to maintain the natural ecosystems in the area. Massapequa Preserve was originally part of the New York City water supply property and was acquired by Nassau County in 1981. Currently, it is being managed by the Nassau County Department of Recreation and Parks. Massapequa Preserve offers multiple small bodies of water to explore, including a reservoir. The Massapequa Reservoir is known to be a popular fishing spot and may be the most heavily fished pond on Long Island. This is due to the routine stocking of trout that happens twice a year. Massapequa Reservoir is stocked with brown and rainbow trout in the spring and fall which draw crowds of people around these times. Other common fish to catch in the Massapequa Reservoir include Largemouth Bass, Trout, Sunnies, Carp, Catfish, and Pickerel. Local fishers enjoy the easily accessible bodies of water.
Now I know why I rarely see these ducks on a shore! They just can't stop eating or drinking for a second! :)
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The preening duck was the younger male. Right after this, they both went back to dabbling.
Male Redhead duck (Aythya americana)
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Scientific classification
Domain:Eukaryota
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Anseriformes
Family:Anatidae
Genus:Marmaronetta
Reichenbach, 1853
Species:M. angustirostris
Binomial name
Marmaronetta angustirostris
Physical characteristics
Small, grey-brown dabbling duck. Brownish body flecked with creamy-brown. Dark eye-patch and broad eye-stripe from eye to nape. No speculum. Elegant shape, slightly crested appearance and long neck and wings. Female slightly smaller. Characteristic low, slow flight. Similar spp. Pintail Anas acuta female is larger, lacks eye-patch and has scalloped flanks. Voice Squeaking jeep uttered by displaying males. Otherwise relatively silent.
Habitat
Habitat needs are poorly understood. Marbled Teal mainly use shallow, eutrophic wetlands, typically with dense emergent and submerged vegetation. Fresh to saline wetlands are used, but there is some evidence of a preference for slightly brackish sites. More permanent wetlands seem to be favoured for breeding while newly flooded areas seem to be preferred outside the breeding season. Phragmites, glasswort (e.g. Salicornia) or Typha are typically dominant in favoured wetlands, especially when they offer densely vegetated, shallow areas that provide good cover. Many temporary wetlands that flood only in years of high rainfall are used throughout the life-cycle. This is particularly true in North Africa, where some of the most important breeding sites are dry in most years.
Other details
The current global distribution of the Marbled Teal is fragmented, with major centres of distribution in the western Mediterranean and tropical Africa (Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali, Nigeria and Chad), the eastern Mediterranean (Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Syria) and western and southern Asia (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China). The first and last of these regional populations are found partly within the western Palearctic, while the second lies wholly within it. The movements that occur within and between these regional populations are very poorly understood and open to speculation. The only ringing data for Marbled Teal comes from the western Mediterranean.
On the basis of recent midwinter counts, the current world wintering population of Marbled Teal has been conservatively estimated at 34,000 birds. The western Mediterranean/tropical African population can be estimated at 3,000, with a 1993 count of 2,435 in Morocco and Algeria and several hundred birds probably wintering in tropical Africa. The eastern Mediterranean wintering population must be at least 600, given the fact that 200 pairs or more currently breed in Turkey and Israel. The south-west and southern Asian wintering population can be conservatively estimated at 30,000, with a 1992 count of 26,275 in Iran and Pakistan. Numbers present at many potential wintering sites in Asia are still unknown, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan and the former Soviet Union, and this population is likely to have been underestimated.
The actual total world population immediately prior to the destruction of the marshes of southern Iraq was most likely to lie in the range 34,000-40,000, with a total breeding population of 8,000-13,000 pairs. Like those of other duck species, Marbled Teal populations must fluctuate considerably from one year to the next, and the above figures refer to estimates of peak population size within the range of current fluctuations. There are insufficient data to estimate the lower limit of this range, but it is likely to be less than 50% of the peak population. However, these figures for population size may already be out of date and a population crash is likely to result from the destruction of the Iraqi marshes since 1991, as this area may have supported over 10,000 Marbled Teal in the breeding season. Most birds breeding in Iraq were thought to winter in Iran, and there is evidence for such a population crash from the extremely low recent winter counts from Iran of 5,021 in 1993 and 1,919 in 1994.
Feeding
The very few data on diet indicate a mixture of invertebrates and plant material (seed, shoots, leaves, roots, tubers) being taken. Marbled Teal feed mainly by dabbling, with upending observed very occasionally. Feeding activity is concentrated in beds of submerged macrophytes when these are available. The filter in the bill is not very fine, suggesting that Marbled Teal do not feed on plankton.
Conservation
This species appears to have suffered a rapid population decline, evidenced in its core wintering range, as a result of widespread and extensive habitat destruction. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable. However, data are scarce and some birds may have relocated to alternative wintering sites. Apparent increases in the western Mediterranean population probably reflect improved observer coverage rather than genuine changes. This population has suffered a long-term decline and widespread loss of habitat [conservation status from birdlife.org]
Breeding
The mating system is monogamous, but is still poorly understood. Very few paired birds are observed in winter, and pairing occurs in early spring. The species is sexually monomorphic, and field observations in Spain suggest that males remain with females and their broods, playing a guarding role. The timing of nesting is variable, with 4-14 eggs laid from late April to the first half of July. Incubation takes 25-27 days. The time from hatching to fledging has not been recorded, but is probably 8-9 weeks. Brood amalgamation has often been observed, up to 32 ducklings having been recorded with one female. Communal nesting was formerly known.
Migration
Migratory and dispersive, but little understood in virtual absence of ringing. Apparently irregular at times, according to availability of shallow waters. Spanish breeders leave marismas temporarily in late summer; many records September to north-east near coasts and in Ebro delta.
The Marbled Teal is migratory across its range in the sense that it undergoes frequent movements across national frontiers. But it is largely nomadic, making unpredictable, non-cyclical and opportunistic movements in relation to rainfall and flooding patterns. Which themselves are highly unpredictable over most of the range. There is a general migration southwards in winter, but the timing and extent of such movements varies considerably between years .
There are very few data on moult behavior, but there is probably a full, flightless moult in late summer, followed by a partial moult into breeding plumage in late autumn/early winter, as with other dabbling ducks and pochards. Moulting flocks have been reported in Tunisia in the first half of July, while 10 moulting birds were reported in Uzbekistan on 17 June 1982.
INCOMING......
This American Widgeon has been hanging out at Green Cay in Boynton Beach, Florida for several weeks now.
A dabbling duck found in open wetlands in Australia and New Zealand.
In New Zealand they were rare and local until a large number migrated from Australia to New Zealand, largely due to drought pressure in Australia.
Now common in shallow coastal lakes and lagoons with good margins of swamp and willows.
Protected native. While some are accidentally shot in duck shooting season, the population is growing.
Mottled brown duck with white and green flashes on its wings. The male and female Grey Teal share the same colouration. Juveniles are paler than adults, especially on the head. Nests near its favoured freshwater lakes and marshes, usually on the ground, but also in tree holes or rabbit burrows.
This is a vocal duck, especially at night. The male gives a soft preep, and the female has a loud quack.
Ducks in the petting zoo. They were making a constant rustling noise as they dabbled in their bedding for grain.
Northern Pintail
The Pintail or Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is a duck with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator. Unusually for a bird with such a large range, it has no geographical subspecies if the possibly conspecific duck Eaton's pintail is considered to be a separate species.
This is a large duck, and the male's long central tail feathers give rise to the species' English and scientific names. Both sexes have blue-grey bills and grey legs and feet. The drake is more striking, having a thin white stripe running from the back of its chocolate-coloured head down its neck to its mostly white undercarriage. The drake also has attractive grey, brown, and black patterning on its back and sides. The hen's plumage is more subtle and subdued, with drab brown feathers similar to those of other female dabbling ducks. Hens make a coarse quack and the drakes a flute-like whistle.
For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_pintail
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern New Jersey along the Atlantic coast north of Atlantic City, in Atlantic and Ocean counties. The refuge was created in 1984 out of two existing refuge parcels created to protect tidal wetland and shallow bay habitat for migratory water birds. The Barnegat Division (established in 1967) is located in Ocean County on the inland side of Barnegat Bay. The Brigantine Division (established in 1939) is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of Atlantic City along the south bank of the mouth of the Mullica River. The two divisions are separated by approximately 20 miles (32 km). The refuge is located along most active flight paths of the Atlantic Flyway, making it an important link in the network of national wildlife refuges administered nationwide by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Forsythe Refuge is a part of the Hudson River/New York Bight Ecosystem and The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. The refuge is named for Edwin B. Forsythe, conservationist Congressman from New Jersey.
Food Projects from Dabbled.org this year
1. Lemon Pie How-to, 2. Halloween Cocktail Experiments, 3. Freezing chicken stock, 4. Making Oatmeal Cookies, 5. Halloween Sweets, 6. Stacked Christmas Tree Cookies How To, 7. How To Make a Blueberry Pie, 8. Flayed Skin Cheeseball How-to, 9. Making Eggnog , 10. Sweet Sushi, 11. Halloween BrainDip, 12. Making Crepes, 13. Making tiny wedding cakes cookies, 14. Robot Cake, 15. Mozzarella Eyeballs
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
Canon 400mm DO IS, Canon 7D, Canon 1.4x II
Mallard_Anas platyrhynchos
Ecology
The Mallard inhabits most wetlands, including parks, small ponds and rivers, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing; there are reports of it eating frogs.[2] It usually nests on a river bank, but not always near water. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks, which are known as a sord.[6]
[edit] Breeding behavior
Mallards form pairs only until the female lays eggs, at which time she is left by the male. The clutch is 8–13 eggs, which are incubated for 27–28 days to hatching with 50–60 days to fledgling. The ducklings are precocial, and can swim and feed themselves on insects as soon as they hatch, although they stay near the female for protection.
When they pair off with mating partners, often one or several drakes will end up "left out". This group will sometimes target an isolated female duck — chasing, pestering and pecking at her until she weakens (a phenomenon referred to by researchers as rape flight), at which point each male will take turns copulating with the female. Male Mallards will also occasionally chase other males in the same way. (In one documented case, a male Mallard copulated with another male he was chasing after said male had been killed when he flew into a glass window.)[7]
[edit] Ancestor of domestic ducks
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the ancestor of almost all of the varieties of domestic ducks. Domestic ducks belong to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae. The wild Mallard and Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) are believed to be the ancestors of all domestic ducks.[3][4]
[edit] Genetic pollution, hybridization and systematics
The last male Mariana Mallard.
The release of feral Mallard Ducks in areas where they are not native sometimes creates problems through interbreeding with indigenous waterfowl. These non-migratory Mallards interbreed with indigenous wild ducks from local populations of closely related species through genetic pollution by producing fertile offspring. Complete hybridization of various species of wild ducks gene pools could result in the extinction of many indigenous waterfowl. The wild Mallard itself is the ancestor of most domestic ducks and its naturally evolved wild gene pool gets genetically polluted in turn by the domesticated and feral populations.[3][4][8][9][10]
Mallards frequently interbreed with their closest relatives in the genus Anas, such as the American Black Duck, and also with species more distantly related, for example the Northern Pintail, leading to various hybrids that may be fully fertile. This is quite unusual among different species, and apparently has its reasons in the fact that the Mallard evolved very rapidly and not too long ago, during the Late Pleistocene only. The distinct lineages of this radiation are usually kept separate due to non-overlapping ranges and behavioral cues, but are still not fully genetically incompatible. Mallards and their domesticated conspecifics are, of course, also fully interfertile.
The Mallard is considered an invasive species in New Zealand. There, and elsewhere, Mallards are spreading with increasing urbanization and hybridizing with local relatives.[11] Over time, a continuum of hybrids ranging between almost typical examples of either species will develop; the speciation process beginning to reverse itself.[12] This has created conservation concerns for relatives of the Mallard, such as the Hawaiian Duck,[13] the A. s. superciliosa subspecies of the Pacific Black Duck,[14] the American Black Duck,[15] the Florida Duck,[16] Meller's Duck,[17] the Yellow-billed Duck,[12] and the Mexican Duck,[18] in the latter case even leading to a dispute whether these birds should be considered a species[19] (and thus entitled to more conservation research and funding) or included in the mallard.
Like elsewhere worldwide the alien Mallards are also causing severe “genetic pollution” of South Africa’s biodiversity by breeding with endemic ducks. The hybrids of Mallard and the Yellow-billed Duck are fertile and can produce more hybrid offspring. If this continues, only hybrids will occur and in the long term this will result in the extinction of various indigenous waterfowl. The Mallard duck can cross breed with 63 other species and is posing a severe threat to the genetic integrity of indigenous waterfowl. Mallards and their hybrids compete with indigenous birds for resources such as food, nest sites and roosting sites.[10]
On the other hand, the Chinese Spotbill is currently introgressing into the Mallard populations of the Primorsky Krai, possibly due to habitat changes from global warming.[20] The Mariana Mallard was a resident allopatric population - in most respects a good species - apparently initially derived from Mallard × Pacific Black Duck hybrids;[21] unfortunately, it became extinct in the 1980s. In addition, feral domestic ducks interbreeding with Mallards have led to a size increase - especially in drakes - in most Mallards in urban areas. Rape flights between normal-sized females and such stronger males are liable to end with the female being drowned by the males' combined weight.
It was generally assumed that as the spectacular nuptial plumage of Mallard drakes is obviously the result of sexual selection - most species in the mallard group being sexually monomorphic -, hybrid matings would preferentially take place between females of monomorphic relatives and Mallard drakes instead of the other way around. But this generalization was found to be incorrect.[22]
Note that it is not the hybridization itself that causes most conservation concerns. The Laysan Duck is an insular relative of the Mallard with a very small and fluctuating population. Mallards sometimes arrive on its island home during migration, and can be expected to occasionally have remained and hybridized with Laysan Ducks as long as these species exist. But these hybrids are less well adapted to the peculiar ecological conditions of Laysan Island than the local ducks, and thus have lower fitness, and furthermore, there were - apart from a brief time in the early 20th century when the Laysan Duck was almost extinct - always much more Laysan Ducks than stray Mallards. Thus, in this case, the hybrid lineages would rapidly fail.
In the cases mentioned above, however, ecological changes and hunting have led to a decline of local species; for example, the New Zealand Gray Duck's population declined drastically due to overhunting in the mid-20th century (Williams & Basse 2006). In the Hawaiian Duck, it seems that hybrid offspring are less well-adapted to native habitat and that utilizing them in reintroduction projects makes these less than successful.[23] In conclusion, the crucial point underlying the problems of Mallards "hybridizing away" relatives is far less a consequence of Mallards spreading, but of local ducks declining; allopatric speciation and isolating behavior have produced today's diversity of Mallard-like ducks despite the fact that in most if not all of these populations, hybridization must always have occurred to some extent. Given time and a population of sufficient size exists, natural selection ought to suppress harmful allele combinations to a negligible level.
The aforementioned confounds analysis of the evolution considerably. Analyses of good samples of mtDNA sequences give the confusing picture[24] one expects from a wide-ranging species that has evolved probably not much earlier than the Plio-/Pleistocene boundary, around 2 mya. Mallards appear to be closer to their Indo-Pacific relatives than to their American ones judging from biogeography. Considering mtDNA D-loop sequence data,[25] they may have evolved more probably than not in the general area of Siberia; mallard bones rather abruptly appear in food remains of ancient humans and other deposits of fossil bones in Europe, without a good candidate for a local predecessor species. The large ice age paleosubspecies which made up at least the European and W Asian populations during the Pleistocene has been named Anas platyrhynchos palaeoboschas.
As expected, haplotypes typical of American Mallard relatives and Spotbills can be found in Mallards around the Bering Sea.[26] Interestingly, the Aleutian Islands turned out to hold a population of Mallards that appear to be evolving towards a good subspecies as gene flow with other populations is very limited.[25] This unexpected result suggests that reevaluation of the Greenland, Iceland, and NE Canada populations according to molecular and morphological characters is warranted.
A male Wood Duck, Aix sponsa, feeding in the shallow waters of a Belle Isle vernal pond. The picture was shot right out of the truck window on the passenger side.
Feeding Method classic dabbling position
locator: COW_4461_tonemapped
image by Photo George
copyright: ©2012 GCheatle
all rights reserved
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas / Massapequa Preserve, also known as the Peter J. Schmitt Preserve, is 423 acres of land located in the center of Massapequa, an unincorporated Hamlet within the Town of Oyster Bay, beginning at the intersection of Ocean Ave. and Merrick Road. These undeveloped acres of land feature woodlands, lakes, and freshwater wetlands that border Massapequa Creek and stretch for about 4 miles. Massapequa Preserve is the largest passive use park in Nassau County; its beauty is maintained by several volunteer groups and organizations that work to maintain the natural ecosystems in the area. Massapequa Preserve was originally part of the New York City water supply property and was acquired by Nassau County in 1981. Currently, it is being managed by the Nassau County Department of Recreation and Parks. Massapequa Preserve offers multiple small bodies of water to explore, including a reservoir. The Massapequa Reservoir is known to be a popular fishing spot and may be the most heavily fished pond on Long Island. This is due to the routine stocking of trout that happens twice a year. Massapequa Reservoir is stocked with brown and rainbow trout in the spring and fall which draw crowds of people around these times. Other common fish to catch in the Massapequa Reservoir include Largemouth Bass, Trout, Sunnies, Carp, Catfish, and Pickerel. Local fishers enjoy the easily accessible bodies of water.
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The Mallard (/ˈmælɑrd/ or /ˈmælərd/) or Wild Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae.
The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on wings and belly, while the females have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are gregarious. This species is the ancestor of most breeds of domestic ducks.
The Mallard is a medium-sized waterfowl species although is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks. It is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long (of which the body makes up around two-thirds), has a wingspan of 81–98 cm (32–39 in), and weighs 0.72–1.58 kg (1.6–3.5 lb). Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 25.7 to 30.6 cm (10.1 to 12.0 in), the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm (1.7 to 2.4 in) and the tarsus is 4.1 to 4.8 cm (1.6 to 1.9 in). The breeding male Mallard is unmistakable, with a glossy bottle-green head and white collar which demarcates the head from the purple-tinged brown breast, grey brown wings, and a pale grey belly. The rear of the male is black, with the dark tail having white borders. The bill of the male is a yellowish orange tipped with black while that of the female is generally darker ranging from black to mottled orange. The female Mallard is predominantly mottled with each individual feather showing sharp contrast from buff to very dark brown, a coloration shared by most female dabbling ducks, and has buff cheeks, eyebrow, throat and neck with a darker crown and eye-stripe. Both male and female Mallards have distinct iridescent purple blue speculum feathers edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest, though temporarily shed during the annual summer moult. Upon hatching, the plumage colouring of the duckling is yellow on the underside and face (with streaks by the eyes) and black on the backside (with some yellow spots) all the way to the top and back of the head. Its legs and bill are also black. As it nears a month in age, the duckling's plumage will start becoming drab, looking more like the female (though its plumage is more streaked) and its legs will lose their dark grey colouring. Two months after hatching, the fledgling period has ended and the duckling is now a juvenile. Between three to four months of age, the juvenile can finally begin flying as its wings are fully developed for flight (which can be confirmed by the sight of purple speculum feathers). Its bill will soon lose its dark grey colouring and its sex can finally be distinguished by three factors. The bill colouring is yellow in males, black and orange for females. The breast feathers are reddish-brown for males, brown for females. The centre tail feather is curled for males (called a drake feather), straight for females.
During the final period of maturity leading up to adulthood (6–10 months of age), the plumage of female juveniles remains the same while the plumage of male juveniles slowly changes to its characteristic colours. This plumage change also applies to adult Mallard males when they transition in and out of their non-breeding eclipse plumage at the beginning and the end of the summer moulting period. The adulthood age for Mallards is 14 months and the average life expectancy is 20 years.