Woody the Wood Duck

Our Celebrity Mandarin Duck at the Pond

So our fickle New York City media have decided that Mandy the Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is the "most handsome" duck around and worthy of a spot on the local CBS news and in other media outlets (including The Times).

Mandy the Mandarin Duck, the Pond, Central Park, October 28, 2018

Mandy the Mandarin Duck, the Pond, Central Park, October 28, 2018

Mandarin and wood ducks are the only two members of the Aix genus, which apparently denotes the most handsome ducks in the world. I agree that Mandy is very striking — one might even call him the Taylor Mac of the duck world — but I wouldn’t go so far to say he is the most handsome! As you can see from these side-by-side photos, Woody still rules the Pond!

Mandy the Mandarin Duck, the Pond, October 28, 2018

Mandy the Mandarin Duck, the Pond, October 28, 2018

Woody Woody Duck, Prince of the Pond, October 28, 2018

Woody Woody Duck, Prince of the Pond, October 28, 2018

Now for those of you who might think that Mandy is the first Mandarin duck to appear in Central Park, here is a photo from March 18, 2016, of a Mandarin duck in the Central Park Zoo, which is just a hop and a skip away (if you have long legs or wings) from the Pond where Woody lives. I haven't visited recently, so don't know if this little duck is still in residence, but just so you know ...

Mandarin Duck, Central Park Zoo, March 18, 2016

Mandarin Duck, Central Park Zoo, March 18, 2016

The Filming the Feathers video shows both Mandy and the Central Park Mandarin duck, and is set to music by Keven MacLeod and Shane Ivers.

Mandy 1500 10-28-2018 042P.jpg
Mandy 1500 10-28-2018 061P.jpg

The Woody Narrative

Woody Wood Duck, Prince of the Pond at 59th Street in Central Park, is my favorite wild animal to watch. I try to see him as often as I can, and I make up stories about him. I stand on the shore and call out, "Woody! Woody! Woody!" in almost a song, and Woody will swim over to me, occasionally requesting peanuts and sunflower seeds.

Woody, April 4, at the Pond, Central Park

Woody, April 4, at the Pond, Central Park

I tell people that Woody thinks he is a mallard because he swims around with a mallard pair and chases male mallards away from the female. I tell them that the female likes Woody because he keeps her from getting attacked by mallards other than her mate. And when her mate copulates with her, Woody bites his tail feathers.

Woody and the female mallard he swims around with, April 4, the Pond

Woody and the female mallard he swims around with, April 4, the Pond

When young male mallards come to the Pond, Uncle Woody teaches them about peanuts and standing up against the mallards and behaving like a Woody Wood Duck rather than just a "normal" wood duck. I call these young male wood duck students "Junior" or "Not Woody." J3 (Junior, power of 3) is a young wood duck that Woody has trained recently.

Woody, April 4, the Pond

Woody, April 4, the Pond

J3, Woody's student, April 4, the Pond

J3, Woody's student, April 4, the Pond

Much as it is fun to make up stories about what Woody does and thinks, every now and then Woody behaves like a male duck. This happened on April 4, when Woody was seen force copulating with a female mallard, a sight that was a little disturbing to watch. I recorded the behavior, trying to refrain from judgment, and then tried to present it as a naturalist's observation.

Watching male mallards gang attack a female mallard is disturbing, because it is brutal and primal. As I female, I found it evoked my fear of rape. This kind of behavior is common in the world of waterfowl, and has been labeled as "rape" by some naturalist sources. But that is anthropomorphizing behavior that apparently has evolved to continue the different duck species. Waterfowl, especially mallards and wood ducks, tend to hybridize more than any other bird species, although many of the hybrid offspring are infertile.

The female mallard remained under the bush for a couple of minutes after the forced copulation.

The female mallard remained under the bush for a couple of minutes after the forced copulation.

I have watched five mallards almost drown a female mallard. To watch a duck I thought I understood participate in this behavior reminded me that Woody is indeed a wild animal and will behave as wild animals do.

Woody, April 4, the Pond

Woody, April 4, the Pond

I decided to accept Woody for the wood duck that he is. I have continued to visit him at the Pond, although I couldn't find him last night when I looked. He has left the Pond in the past, only to return in June to molt. If he has gone, I wish him safe travels and hope that he returns soon.

The Joys of the Winter Solstice!

Dec. 21 was a glorious day in Central Park, for I was able to see my first male green-winged teal, plus Woody, a young male pintail duck, lots of mallards, and a couple of hawks. I was also able to feed chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, sparrows, woodpeckers, squirrels, pigeons and other hungry wildlife in the park (no pictures of the smaller birds on this day, because the birds were on my hands or on my hat or camera).

Green-winged teal drake at the Pond in Central Park, Dec. 21, 2016

Green-winged teal drake at the Pond in Central Park, Dec. 21, 2016

On the Christmas front, I posted a short version of the Christmas story told in art at the Cloisters on Facebook, but a longer one on YouTube. I hope you enjoy it!

Another photo of the green-winged teal, our dear Woody!, the little pintail duck (now called Pinny), and some foliage visible from Gapstow Bridge. Look for some of these characters to appear in the Christmas in New York Central Park video!

Young red-tailed hawk near the Boathouse, Central Park, Dec. 21, 2016

Young red-tailed hawk near the Boathouse, Central Park, Dec. 21, 2016