Date: 11-6
Location: Mill Stream north of UC
Time: 1714-1730
Weather: Light rain, 57˚F
The sun sets earlier now that day light savings has ended, plunging the campus into dim twilight. Most of the birds have slowly disappeared to prepare for the night’s rest, yet I was surprised to find the mallards still swimming around the Mill Stream. Nearly 20 were congregating around the corner of Jackson Plaza, mostly still. A few were plunging their beaks into the water to catch a bedtime snack. As the light dimmed, the stream became dappled with lights from the surrounding buildings, illuminating the gentle ripples. I could not distinguish many of their movements from their resting, that is, floating positions. One duck ostentatiously
flapped his wings in greeting to my arrival as I ventured forward for a closer observation. The movements consisted of the drakes using their beaks to clean their back feathers and wings. The females sounded their quacks momentarily. The light drizzle faded as I watched. Will the mallards stay here during the night? I remember previously that the Mill Stream was deserted during the night as I left campus. Their vision must have been better than mine, for in only 16 minutes, the scene grew dim and I could scarcely make out the shapes of the fowls.
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