Wood Ducks

["Andrew Patrick" <>]

Irene Denton says 'hello guys'. She hopes to get a new, permanent job soon
and
receive email again.

Last weekend at Kenthurst, Sydney I observed a group of 24 Wood Ducks (9
female, 15 male) grazing on the lawn, as they often do.  Some of the birds
(both male and female) bobbed their heads up and down with bill wide open
and making a bit of a cry at the same time. Occassionally they lowered their
heads so their necks were horizontal with the ground and, again with bill
open, would charge at another bird. Both males and females did this. One
male charge a female, she jumped in the air and then charged him back.
Despite this, the group stayed more or less together as they drifted from
one part of the garden to the next.

Why were they doing this?


Andrew Patrick
Cumberland Bird Observers' Club
Intense Software

work (02) 8338 8888