Black swan and cygnets at local lake

I hope you get computer fixed quickly, Margaret. I would hate to go to the library everyday so that I could keep up with DGers. LOL Yes, woodies are cousins of Mandarins. We are seeing more and more Mandarins around here. I guess people purchase and release.

A young man in college bought Khaki for his dorm room...well, you cannot have ducks in your dorm room! He decided to release her at our lake but she would not leave his side. He asked a lady if she knew anyone that would take the duck. She just happened to be a neighbor and he followed her to our house. It was love at first sight! She went everywhere with us (especially with me) and she was very much loved!

Khaki was a domestic breed of duck called Khaki Campbells. This particular breed lay eggs similar to a chicken instead of only in the warm months. They can an egg a day for 7 years and live up to 20. Well, Khaki had not really laid any eggs but she had made a couple of nests. When she was one year old, an egg got stuck and she produced another one. When ducks finally show symptoms of illness, it is usually, too late. We noticed she was not herself and we were going to take her to the vet the next day but she died during the night. That was 3 years ago and I still miss her like crazy!

Khaki asking if I have a worm for her...

She's beautiful! I know you miss her terribly. Thanks for sharing her story with us.

Janet

Great duck pictures and stories.
My picture is not very good, but you can see the wood ducklings and mama that have been swiming around in the marsh.

Another shot

I am glad you enjoyed Khaki's story. I have kept a journal on each duck and/or bird that we have had. Maybe, one of these days, I will write a book about our amazing ducks.

Great news, Resin. Thanks for telling me...made my day.

What a lovely momma and the babies are so precious. Thanks for sharing

This is Dudley. He is a Canada goose the we raised and released last year...

Khaki certainly was beautiful and I'm sure a wonderful family member. Thanks for telling us about her.

Kim, I can empathize with you over the death of your beloved Khaki. Ducks do make the most gorgeous pets. Our beautiful Muscovy, Serena, died as a result of egg peritonitis early this year. And you are so right, by the time you are aware anything is amiss, it's too late. I had her to the local vets twice and an avian veterinarian twice, but alas. Our pet chicken grieved. Boy, if ever anyone had doubts about an animals ability to feel loss, I could enlighten them with the story. Kim, you should write down your experiences. I'll buy the first book. Dudley looks cuddly - well done on the rearing and realease..

I wasn't able to get any good images at the very large lake I mentioned in my last post. Today I'm at a town about 200 kilometres south of Perth and there's a large swamp here. I may take a hike over ther this evening or tomorrow to have a look. However, until I get a decent digital camera, I'm limited in what I can capture.

cpartschick, do visit. Australia is a beautiful country, with a wide range of environments, from desert, to temperate climates, to tropical rainforest, to alpine regions. The coastal areas are the most heavily populated. Perth is really isolated, being thousands of kilometres from the nearest capital city, Adelaide, in South Australia. Western Australia is huge (it really is bigger than Texas). Lovely images of the Wood ducks.

Thanks, Resin, that's good news about their numbers, but not so good about them becoming feral in Britain. What sort of impact are they having?

I'm still computerless and today, shock horror, have had to have my daily DG fix at an internet cafe surrounded by noisy German tourists. Can anyone recommend a good counsellor?

Sorry to laugh, but that is quite the visual.

I have a hard time getting my DG fix when my hubby is home! We feel for you!!

Hope you get your computer working soon Margaret.

Well, I was without a computer for less than 5 days and it seemed like a lifetime. The man bought the computer back this afternoon after having run it for 2 x 15 hour stretches at his workshop and doing a clean up, he found nothing wrong with it; we turned it on here at home and lo and behold, still not working. Turned out that the MOUSE had died!. The simplest things are sometimes the most baffling (like the meaning of life). I'll hold a little ceremony for the deceased mouse.

The image is of two Corellas and two Pink and Grey Galahs having a feed outside the TV room.

Interesting information about the Mandarin Ducks, Resin. Thanks.

How's the turtle demolition of the yard going, cpartschick?

It's good to be back, pelletory. How are things in your bird kingdom?

Nice pic Margaret! Glad your computer is okay!

The dreaded dead mouse. Sorry for your problems. Glad you are back on line again.

We have had quite a few snapping turtles digging all over, and the painted turtles are coming up now. They are much smaller and nicer looking. The other turtles are in the woods walking around and I am assuming laying eggs there.

We still have 3 cygnets (of the origional 5) They are looking heathy and spry. We have had several storms here, with lightning and high winds and heavy, heavy rain. I am glad I can be inside during these storms.

The immature bald eagle that we have here took a full sized duck yesterday. Wow, you should have heard the nosie. We have had about 50 ducks hanging around here lately (I guess 49 now) Also saw some common merganser babies.

Oh Margaret, so sorry about your pretty Muscovy. Poor little chicken.

C, I am thrilled that there are still 3 cygnets. Thanks for keeping us updated.
Wow! You have quite a few waterfowl around your home!

Thanks, Kim. Having had a pet duck, you will understand how wonderful these birds are. I may share the story on the Pets column (if I ever extricate myself from birdwatching long enough).

cparts, I'll have a little ceremony for the mouse. It'll be just a quiet family affair. What are the Painted Turtles like? More images, please.

pelletory, as a matter of interest, have you ever seen a black swan, even if it was in a Zoo? Has anyone seen one in either the USA, Canada or the UK?

I will try to get some. On my way to work after being off for a couple years. I will miss my show outdoors.

Thanks Resin.

Great thread, really enjoyed all the photos and stories.

Good to hear from you, kniphofia. Glad you've enjoyed it.

Found another image of the "28" (Port Lincoln Ringneck) parrot seconds before it was released. This is the one that returned the following day reeking of eucalyptus and continued to return over several months, eventually coming with a mate.

Yes, we have had one on our lake. I am certain that someone put it there.

"28" is so beautiful!

Here's a talkative female mallard keeping her brood in line.

Very cute pic!

What a great Mom!

The added pictures are great.
I got home from work today and who was planting eggs by the driveway? a painted turtle.
So I got out the camera. I didn't think I would get a picture for you so soon!
Her head is in, because the dog had to ck her out first.

Great image of mum and bubs, kniphofia. Do you also have a problem with turtles taking the ducklings?

cparts, you must have thought you were hallucinating when you saw the black swan. Do you know what happened to it? What a gorgeous turtle. She looks like a chocolate Easter egg.

Margaret we don't have turtles in Britain :) I know a group of ducklings at work in one of our quadrangles were reduced by magpies and crows..
I did see snapping turtles when I lived in Maine, amazing things! 'Chocolate Easter egg' - what a great description of C's painted turtle!
Sue

Pretty big choc egg. About 8" in length. But a good discription.

I have never seen a black swan.

Hey,cparts, I could inhale an 8" Easter Egg without blinking. You've never seen a black swan and I've never seen snow.

We have lost many ducklings to turtles (some are a lot bigger than an eight inch Easter egg!). However, we have also, lost many to foxes, hawks, fish, snakes and even dogs and cats. Everything seems to like to eat ducks.

Talking about all this chocolate...now, I have to go to the store and buy some ;o))

Lol, it has to be good chocolate for me. I like the expensive stuff!

I took this image this morning. I think it shows the colour of the Black Swan very well. There was a Musk Duck close by - so close in fact that the swan half-heartedly grabbed it by the tail.

Musk Duck. Fascinating watching their mating display. The throat pouch inflates and the drake raises itself in the water and slaps itself down again making quite a splash. I've never smelled them at this time, but apparently they have quite a strong musky odour, hence the name. They are enchanting. Out of the water, their stance is quite upright, with their legs far back on the body.

Self explanatory

What lovely birds, Margaret. I would really like to see the musk duck dance and prance for his potential date. LOL

Nice pics Margaret! I love the swan.

Wonderful! Great pictures.

I can almost see the dance of the musk ducks.
What fun it must be to watch them.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement, support and positive comments. I think I'll close this thread down with the intention of re-opening in Spring when new life will abound (and hopefully I'll have a new camera). See you all on your own threads and in the Daily Pics. My parting shot for this thread is the two swans at Lake Claremont in an intertwined embrace.

PS: I'd still appreciate any comments on this one.