The thrill of spotting a wild animal is stirred by the knowledge of what a privilege it is to encounter such a shy creature.  Unless, of course, you’re within city limits.  Here the rules change, as there is such a density of human beings that many of the wild animals that choose to find their niche among us are largely inured to our presence.  The thrill of the hunt may be absent from the encounter, but nonetheless it can be an excellent opportunity to view a normally timid animal up close.

With the weather warming, I’ve been taking walks in the nearby park on my lunch hours.  Victoria Park hosts a number of Canada Geese, even more Mallards, and a trio of very obliging Wood Ducks.  The male of the group is likely the same bird who hung out there all last summer, and he is currently decked out in his spectacular spring finery (a plumage rivalled only by his close relative the Mandarin Duck).  With his helmeted appearance and cloak of dark feathers, he reminds me of a very squat Darth Vader.

You don't know the power of the dark side.

But it’s the female that I find the most beautiful.  With warm browns and greys, bright eyes and soft patterns against a vibrant blue speculum, she is without compare my favourite duck.  Of the two at Victoria Park, one is much more skittish and usually takes to the water at my approach, but the other holds her ground, and she feistily chases off any of the much larger Mallards if they wander too close.

Wood Ducks are so named because they nest in tree hollows, but they are not the only ducks to do this.  Several mergansers, as well as all goldeneye species, are also cavity nesters; nonetheless, it still feels bizarre whenever I see a duck perched in a tree.  Soon these two females will be seeking out nest sites of their own, if they haven’t already (suitable cavities are hard to come by, but they will gladly accept nest boxes put out for them if mounted in desirable habitat).  Perhaps there will be a few little pale-lored ducklings gracing the ponds alongside the Mallard broods come May or June of this year.