Every year a few Mallard Ducks and Canadian Geese land in the front field. They hang around for a few days and then they move on. The little ‘pond’ is from the snow melting and it doesn’t stay for long. When it pretty much dries up neither the geese or ducks visit anymore.
All the loud quacking is coming from the female duck. Female ducks have a very strong voice, the male’s voice in contrast is much quieter. Perhaps it’s so that the female can call out to her ducklings.
In this video she seems upset and doesn’t quit through the whole clip. I did scare up a flock of ducks a few minutes earlier, and she was part of that group. The others flew off in another direction, so maybe she’s upset because she doesn’t know where they are. The male on the other hand, just quietly grooms himself not in the least bit concerned.
The video clip of the Canadian Geese is a lot quieter, but they get quite vocal before getting ready to fly. Canadian Geese mate for life.
I have a hard time sneaking up on any of these guys. Waterfowl of any kind are extra wary of people in the country, unlike their city cousins who get friendly with people and readily snatch up any treats people throw to them. It is quite a contrast in habits between the two. They are all wild, but the city dwellers have lost the inborn instinct to be frightened of people. Unfortunately that isn’t always a good thing.
Ducks and geese will return to the same spot year after year, so if you believe you’ve seen the same birds before, you most likely have. Youngsters will also return to the relative area of their birth to establish their own nesting sites