Duluth is still locked in winter, but 175 miles to the south as one exits the Boreal Forest, there are hints of spring. Although lakes are still ice over in the Minneapolis area, the streams that enter and exit lakes have open water and the early arriving ducks are aware of that fact. This morning at sunrise I found a flock of 21 Wood Ducks in a small area of open water. The ratios of drakes to hens made for interesting mating competition. I counted 18 drakes, and 3 hens. When I determined that one hen was already paired off with a drake, you really only had two female birds to be fought over by 17 guys!

Here are a few of my photos. The courting competion allowed me to get much closer than is  normally possible with wood ducks. I was a non entity when love was a possibility! In addition you will find two videos … the same sequence both at full speed and slowed down by a factor of two. The slow motion allows one to better see what is happening!

Community Courting

Early Morning Light

No Means No!

Territory Dispute with a Mallard

Iced Love

Rejected Suitors

Slow Motion Video (by a factor of two)

Full Speed Video

Back in the USA … home to Duluth this afternoon! In the meantime, how many of you visit major metropolitan area parks early in the morning? Before anyone else visits? Such was the case this morning when I arrived at French Region Park in suburban Minneapolis at 5:45 am. I was the only “human” in the park, but the wildlife activity was extensive. Thus, even if you live in a huge city, wildlife is just around the corner, but one must visit parks before the masses. This morning, in between eating, there was some courting taking place.

This morning’s turkeys

———-

A hen wood duck