Mallard

On Sunday, I finally got out with camera in hand this cold, gray Febraury.  I did not see much of note in the Carleton College arboretum. I did photograph several of the hundred Mallards loafing along open water along the Cannon River. My goal was to get a few shots with the dimensions preferred by BirdsEye.photo.

The mallard is North America’s most abundant duck, breeding across most of Canada and the United States. The species is adaptable in its habitat preferences and will eat a wide variety of food items. It is cold-hearty, and will winter as far north as open water persists. Despite being heavily taken by sport-hunters, populations remain steady (Drilling et al. 2002).