Male Mallard making love to female Mallard :p
There's no privacy at Beaver Lake, and the Mallards know it :) So when I see them bobbing their heads up and down, I know what is coming next! Mallards have been going at it for a while now and the more I pay attention to them, the more intricate their rituals become.
First they start bobbing their heads up and down, then if she wants (and only if she wants), she lowers her head and the male climbs on board :) He then grabs her by the scruff of her neck with his bill for leverage, and does what nature intended :) Then he'll make a loud whistle sound and swim off in a circle, proud as can be! The female stays put and does a big wing flap and tail wag, followed by the male doing the same :)
The lighting for this video was not the best, but hopefully the sound and action will make up for it :) Finding a good still shot might be a challenge...
This naughty video was shot at Beaver Lake in Stanley Park, Vancouver BC, Canada.
Thanks for watching!
Wow, exactly as you described! Great video :)
Thanks @keithboone :)
They go through the exact same steps each time, it's uncanny :)
I love this post, especially since my husband(@briancourteau) and I lived there for most of our lives!! We just moved to Mexico to escape the rain, but I used to love walking our dogs around Stanley Park. In all my time however, I was never so lucky as to witness this little mating dance!:) I do remember one time killing myself laughing at the mangiest raccoon I've ever seen trying to get at some baby geese. The momma came over and clapped him upside his ears with her wings haha...never mess with the momma!!
You have a new follower in me for sure; I know where to come to when I'm feeling the least bit homesick!! Cheers!
Thanks for the comment and upvote @lynncoyle1!
I don't blame you for escaping the rain :) It can be quite intense, especially this time of year!
The more I pay attention to nature in Stanley Park the more she shows me ;) I have the utmost respect for all the mommas, and what they go through for they're precious offspring; watching the mother ducks this past year has been a real eye opener!
I hope to entertain, inform and give you a window into your old stomping grounds ;)