Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations First ducks on the new pond

yesterday morning around dawn i swore i heard some ducks quacking out on the pond. wife was sure i was just crazy.

this morning i actually got a good glimpse of them, real live ducks dabbling along in the shallows. male and a female, right at dawn. the light was still dim, but it looked like the female was mostly brown. the male was definitely striped black and white, very striking contrast. i couldnt tell what color his head was. they quacked along for a few minutes, once the male stood upright in the water and beat his wings impressively. then, out of nowhere, they picked up and flew off into the forest.

never have i seen ducks with this coloration in our part of Colorado. it made me wonder where they came from and where they headed off to. but mostly I wondered what kind of ducks they were, and how i could encourage them to stick around a bit longer? looking online, the coloration looked like maybe a pair of common merganser ducks? any other guesses?

i know, i will likely reflect back on the more peaceful times before ducks invaded my pond. god know i will never raise ducks commercially on the farm again (short story-loud and messy). but i was excited to see the pair today, at least the wife has one less reason to think i'm crazy. the ducks were real.

I have ducks that sound similar to that on my pond in Missouri too Adam Klaus. I don't know what they are, but the wing beats sound like they are whistling. I like watching them too. I have had a few before this year, but seem to have many more this year and they have been around longer I think.
Best of luck with your new pond.
CMM

You know what they say, if there is no picture, it isn't real!!!!

These?

^^^
I dont think so because their range doesnt include Colorado.

Lesser Scaup?

Might have been a Ringneck or Bufflehead. I have had both as well as Wood ducks this year and some others the dog has chased off before I could get a good look at them.

lesser scaup sure could be the one! anything of note about this duck that you know?

They're divers, not puddle ducks.

From this morning, Blue-Wing Teal and I think a female Lesser Scaup.

<- Jealous. Seems like my pond isn't even liked by geese, which may be a good thing.

A couple ducks out back, but nothing like last year at this time.

Heck, it's snowing right now! Nothing like last year either

Ducks MIA this morning, pretty sure they WERE Lesser Scaup.

I was disappointed that geese didnt like my pond too, but then I realized maybe I should count my blessings on this one.

Snow, snow, we had a good shot earlier in the week. Now the sun is out and it is warm again. For now...

green head, yellow bill, distinct white ring around neck
the evidence comes in...
they must be a pair of mallards, no?

pics were taken, doubters beware
camera battery died before i could upload but i will post asap

That's about all we have up here are mallards. Except for a crazy white duck I've seen for two winters that walks up and down the road. It really looked cold to me.

Yep, Mallards.

here's the proof-

O.K.

So I believe you now!!!

..but you might have a harder time convincing the wife your not crazy.

Heres' a couple on my little city pond.
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af129/bmncool1/ducks_zps5cc20cbe.jpg

This camera isn't very good for taking pictures on zoom.....

2 Drakes and a hen have been hanging around for about a week now. Even shooting a gun near the pond doesn't scare them away. I can run Kate after the geese, and they will fly away, but the ducks don't care.

Adam,
You got that right! Be THANKFUL the Canada Geese don't like your pond!
I have to go out a couple of times a day and remind them with twenty-two long reasons why they should move elsewhere!lol

That sound is a universal language that they all understand! They get the hint and move off!

If they get to nesting, you are stuck with them.

4 pounds of goose crap per bird, per day is all you need!
We have some Mallards, wood Ducks, and even a few Mergansers this year. With the exception of the Mergansers, the others don't bother me too much.

My Blue Winged Teal (BWT) numbers have doubled in the last several days, I have a dozen plus birds. The BWT are rooting up sprouts of something right at the pond edge, probably smartweed. They are having an effect on the water clarity as they stir up the clay along the edge of my little pond. My water clarity has gone from 36-42" down to 16-20" due to their presence. The water clarity comes right back if I get them kicked off the pond for a few hours. Whatever they are eating they like it, I kick them off and they are usually back within ten minutes. Last night I thought they were going to land on me while I was standing next to the pond edge.