Mallards in Riverfront Park

Observer: Eloise Bacher
Date: 1 September, 2008
Place: Gravel bed, Riverfront Park
Time: 1010-1025
Weather: Sunny, some clouds, breeze


There are three Mallards eating in the quieter water of the stream before it does a U-turn and races into the slough. One of the ducks, a female, has drifted downstream and now stopped. How does she stay in one place like that? Paddling her feet constantly, like we tread water? Or maybe it’s shallow enough that she can stand up and lean into the current? The water seems fairly shallow as it drops down into the slough, but perhaps it’s not further up. There are mainly grasses by the edge of the water, and further up are shrubs and blackberries. Even further than that the trees start, although down by the slough it looks like they come much closer to the water. Also near me above the “rapids” there is a group of dancing bugs.


Weather Journal:

Condition:
Estimated
Actual *

Temperature:
65° F
65.4° F

Wind Direction:
South
South-Southeast

Wind Speed:
1 mph
0.4 mph

Humidity:
40%
69.8%

*Quoted from Weather Underground (http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KORSALEM32&graphspan=custom&month=8&day=31&year=2008&monthend=9&dayend=1&yearend=2008)