Little White Sailboats...

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9

Mallard Eclipse Molt Preening feathers on pond in Walton county Georgia (Photo #201609076). Support my work by downloading this photo at www.dreamstime.com. 100% of funds go back into shelter adoption photography and education programs.

Thursday, 7:48 AM – I sauntered up to the shelter pond with camera in hand before the work day began to see what I might see. The morning air was completely calm, but not quite stuffy. Underneath the cloudless sky, the pond was absolutely still... I would say 'as glass' if it weren’t for the bits of grass and debris cast in the water from yesterday’s mowing of the banks. A bright orange sun rose just above the tree line, bathing the entire pond in a vibrant glow. I pulled my hat down to block the blinding rays and peer across the water. From a spot on the bank, concentric arcs of puffy white feathers slowly floated out into the pond, like little sailboats caught on a calm breeze. The resident Mallards sat in the epicenter of these ripples busily preening their feathers.

Mallard Drake Eclipse Molt (photo #201609080). Support my work by downloading this photo at www.dreamstime.com. 100% of funds go back into shelter adoption photography and education programs.

The drakes have begun the slow process of molting back into their colorful breeding plumage. The old, drab brown feathers are mixed with the incoming more brilliant greens, giving them an almost “mangy” appearance. Earlier in the spring, around the time the females were laying eggs, the drakes shed their bright green feathers for drab brown coverings. But now they are again re-growing their signature green feathers, known as their “nuptial” plumage. This molt takes a good bit of time to complete since they exhausted their stored protein reserves on the previous molt. 

I sat and watched through my lens as their heads turned side to side, rubbing the bottom of their bills against their breast feathers; as webbed feet came forward and scratched faces and under wings; as necks stretched out with mouths full of down.  I am curious to observe how long until these drakes regain their handsome green, gray, brown and black characteristic colors of Mallard drakes. Until then, they sit on the banks preening away, sending little white sailboats off across the pond’s surface.
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Walton County, Georgia

Mallard Hen Molt Preening

Mallard Eclipse Molt Preening feathers on pond in Walton county Georgia