For the last two weeks (more or less) we have not seen any female ducks. The pond went down about 18", halfway to the low level as shown in the pic of 6/25/05. However we still had occasional visits from the Mallard drake and two Wood Duck drakes. They generally didn't stay long since the pond was low and littered with spring Box Elder debris, but they were no longer chasing each other around. The rains started on the 14th and on May 15th we had a dinner visit from a Wood Duck (one image) and the Mallard. May 16th, the Mallard drake showed up around 6:00 PM (one pic). Over two hours later I looked out, and in the near darkness I counted at least Seven Wood Duck Drakes!!! In the pond this morning, May 17th at 6:45 AM there were Six Wood Duck Drakes and the pair of Mallards (too dark for decent pics again). They all left, around 7:45 AM two Wood Duck drakes returned for a short visit (one pic of each). At 1:45 PM, the Mallard pair came back and stayed most of the afternoon (three pics). This evening they came back, as did three Wood Duck drakes and one Wood Duck hen...for a brief visit. It was overcast,stormy, and raining. (One pic of a Wood Duck drake)

.....Could it be that something has happened to the Mallard's nest...perhaps it was flooded out with all the rain? I'm surprised that the pair is still together, my research has indicated that once she starts incubating, the Mallard drake will leave her.

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