I’ve been casually observing wildlife for the majority of my life, but today I saw something I’d never seen before. I’ve seen thousands of Mallards over the years “dabbling” for food-- butts up in the air, but above water.
Today while I was on my morning walk, I saw a small flock of about 6 mallards, mixed sexes, diving completely underwater. They didn’t stay down for more than 5 seconds or so, and unlike Cormorants or Loons who often break the surface far from where they dove down, they came back up close to the same location.
A bit of Googling revealed that other people have observed and filmed this behavior. Still, I’m surprised that I never saw it before, especially living for the past 4 years right next to a pond frequented by migratory birds. Anyone else seen this?
Yes, it is a common habit.
It sounds like they’re grazing on plants that are a little deeper than one neck + half a body deep, which seems like a good idea, if you’re a hungry duck and can manage it. With the global economy, we’re all being forced to swim a little deeper and try a little harder. Even dux gotta eat slimy stems to get by. I tell you, it’s meaner tougher pool than it used to be! It’s not the same happy pond it was when you were a duckling!
Have you ever read Sibley?
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=sibley+guide+to+the+birds&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=6872530761&ref=pd_sl_4yg3lhqf0x_b
Bird watching can be very rewarding, but there is the risk of Optic Collecting Disorder.
(We have a Swaroski variety of this evil disease.)
It’s difficult at best to understand the severity of the disorders that come with birding until you find yourself at Eagle Optics and they have set up a single tripod with five 80mm scopes mounted to it for your perusal. All of this while the wife and kids are in the car watching and crying “What’s happened to daddy?”
Mallards are a truly disgusting waterfowl, never be surprised by their behaviours and don’t get taken in by Robert McCloskey, he didn’t know what he was talking about.