Our Celebrity Mandarin Duck at the Pond

So our fickle New York City media have decided that Mandy the Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is the "most handsome" duck around and worthy of a spot on the local CBS news and in other media outlets (including The Times).

Mandy the Mandarin Duck, the Pond, Central Park, October 28, 2018

Mandarin and wood ducks are the only two members of the Aix genus, which apparently denotes the most handsome ducks in the world. I agree that Mandy is very striking — one might even call him the Taylor Mac of the duck world — but I wouldn’t go so far to say he is the most handsome! As you can see from these side-by-side photos, Woody still rules the Pond!

Mandy the Mandarin Duck, the Pond, October 28, 2018

Woody Woody Duck, Prince of the Pond, October 28, 2018

Now for those of you who might think that Mandy is the first Mandarin duck to appear in Central Park, here is a photo from March 18, 2016, of a Mandarin duck in the Central Park Zoo, which is just a hop and a skip away (if you have long legs or wings) from the Pond where Woody lives. I haven't visited recently, so don't know if this little duck is still in residence, but just so you know ...

Mandarin Duck, Central Park Zoo, March 18, 2016

The Filming the Feathers video shows both Mandy and the Central Park Mandarin duck, and is set to music by Keven MacLeod and Shane Ivers.

The Woody Narrative

Woody Wood Duck, Prince of the Pond at 59th Street in Central Park, is my favorite wild animal to watch. I try to see him as often as I can, and I make up stories about him. I stand on the shore and call out, "Woody! Woody! Woody!" in almost a song, and Woody will swim over to me, occasionally requesting peanuts and sunflower seeds.

Woody, April 4, at the Pond, Central Park

I tell people that Woody thinks he is a mallard because he swims around with a mallard pair and chases male mallards away from the female. I tell them that the female likes Woody because he keeps her from getting attacked by mallards other than her mate. And when her mate copulates with her, Woody bites his tail feathers.

Woody and the female mallard he swims around with, April 4, the Pond

When young male mallards come to the Pond, Uncle Woody teaches them about peanuts and standing up against the mallards and behaving like a Woody Wood Duck rather than just a "normal" wood duck. I call these young male wood duck students "Junior" or "Not Woody." J3 (Junior, power of 3) is a young wood duck that Woody has trained recently.

Woody, April 4, the Pond

J3, Woody's student, April 4, the Pond

Much as it is fun to make up stories about what Woody does and thinks, every now and then Woody behaves like a male duck. This happened on April 4, when Woody was seen force copulating with a female mallard, a sight that was a little disturbing to watch. I recorded the behavior, trying to refrain from judgment, and then tried to present it as a naturalist's observation.

Watching male mallards gang attack a female mallard is disturbing, because it is brutal and primal. As I female, I found it evoked my fear of rape. This kind of behavior is common in the world of waterfowl, and has been labeled as "rape" by some naturalist sources. But that is anthropomorphizing behavior that apparently has evolved to continue the different duck species. Waterfowl, especially mallards and wood ducks, tend to hybridize more than any other bird species, although many of the hybrid offspring are infertile.

The female mallard remained under the bush for a couple of minutes after the forced copulation.

I have watched five mallards almost drown a female mallard. To watch a duck I thought I understood participate in this behavior reminded me that Woody is indeed a wild animal and will behave as wild animals do.

Woody, April 4, the Pond

I decided to accept Woody for the wood duck that he is. I have continued to visit him at the Pond, although I couldn't find him last night when I looked. He has left the Pond in the past, only to return in June to molt. If he has gone, I wish him safe travels and hope that he returns soon.

More Reasons to Care

Climate change, global warming, offshore drilling, plastics clogging our oceans, toxic dump sites, deadly fertilizers and pesticides and dangerous genetically modified seeds, fish dead zones from agricultural manure, mining in our parklands — there are so many threats to our environment and to the beautiful animals who share the Earth with us. I walk along the beaches and in the parks to photograph the birds and other critters. The threats to them are real, and the reason I get so angry at the idiots in our government who have taken over and are trying to destroy our planet. Much of this Web site is dedicated to videos and photos of feathered and furry friends. Here are some of the most recent reasons we should care.

All three of these animals were filmed on Staten Island. The residents I have met there are fighting fearlessly to protect the habitat of these magnificent creatures.

Harbor Seals

Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) like to "haul out," or rest, on rocks offshore of Staten Island. I saw them hanging out near the beach at Mount Loretto Unique Area on November 8, 2017, and January 31, 2018.

Harbor seals on Staten Island, January 31, 2018

I set the video to music by Alexander Borodin and Johann Strauss II.

Below are some photos from November 8 and January 31. For many more, visit the harbor seals page.

Redheads

I am extremely fond of ducks, and, of course, my dear friend Woody Wood Duck, Prince of the Pond in Central Park, has the greatest part of my love. I had never seen a redhead (Aythya americana) until we visited Baisley Pond Park in Queens on January 18. Given the ginger tops, these ducks quickly won a big place in my heart.

Redhead, Baisley Pond Park, January 18

Is there a Filming the Feathers video? Of course there is!

The photos below are from January 18 at Baisley Pond. For more photos, see the redheads page.

Groundhog

To celebrate Groundhog Day, I posted a video and photos of a woodchuck we saw at Wolfe's Pond Park on Staten Island on September 18, 2017.

Groundhog, Wolfe's Pond, Staten Island, September 21, 2017

Groundhog Day? No, Groundhog Minute!