Nesting Season Is Underway…Even In Some Unusual Places
My good friend, Todd, e-mailed some pictures to me that should bring a smile to the face of any conservation-minded sportsman. Take a closer look at this first picture…do you see anything?
Looks like a tree trunk with just a tall grassy area surrounding it, huh? Well look again…maybe this next picture will help you out just a bit.
Yes, indeed, hidden in that tall grass is a hen Mallard sitting on a nest. These pictures are actually taken about 200 feet from Todd’s house with the nest located on a golf course. The Mallard decided to make her nest just off the fairway in an area of “rough.”
Probably not the best place for choosing a nesting location given all the non-stop traffic by golfers throughout the day…but sometimes these ducks will endure quite a bit just to pull off a successful brood.
In fact, I was reading a news story just today about another Mallard hen about 15 miles south of where this duck is located. You can read the entire AP News Story HERE…but this other duck happened to choose the outdoor garden department at the Lowe’s Home Improvement Store in Owatonna, Minnesota. That’s right…about three weeks ago the duck found a planter that seemed to be an inviting spot so a nest was duly constructed.
Moreover, when the Lowe’s manager talked to officials at the Minnesota DNR they informed the store official that ducks are protected under an International Migratory Bird Treaty. Moving or otherwise disturbing the nest would be considered tampering and possibly subject the store to a $500 Federal fine.
So, what’s a store manager to do other than cordon off the area so no unsuspecting customer happens to disturb the sacred garden site. Can’t you just imagine all the commotion that store’s garden department was receiving by having a protected area roped off so the mother duck will not be disturbed?
Well, it might already be too late. Store officials are now reporting that the duck hasn’t been seen much during the past week leading folks to wonder if perhaps she has already abandoned her nesting intentions in the busy garden department
The point is that no matter where they happen to nest…this time of the year is a heart-warming sight witnessing ducks and birds of all kinds attempting to rear their young. Sometimes, however, you just have to shake your head and wonder what these ducks were thinking (or not thinking) when they selected the spots they chose to incubate their precious offspring.
2006 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.