Every Mallard you see is a miracle. Their very existence is improbable. The weather, human activities, and predators all conspire to recycle them back into the tangled web of life. A Mallard nest has a 15% chance of fledging young. Of the nests that do fledge young, less than half of the ducklings survive the first two weeks, and only 1/3 survive for six weeks. When the naive young birds reach 60 days of age, their feathers are fully developed, and they can fly. Only 30% of these birds survive their first year of life.
I presented this tangled web of data to my youngest son, who is a mathemetician, and asked him, “What is the probability of a Mallard egg producing an adult Mallard? He did a few quick calculations and said, “Around 3-5%.”
Those lucky few largely exist due to the heroic maternal efforts of their mother. The female mallard builds a nest on the ground, often far from water. She takes care to camouflage the nest, where she lays one egg every day or two for around 14 days. During most of this time, the nest is unattended, and the nutritious eggs are at risk of predation.
Once the clutch is complete, the female begins incubation. She prepares for this task by pulling down feathers from her breast to line the nest. She sits on the eggs for 23 hours a day for 28 days. 30% of females are killed on the nest. The chicks start peeping and clicking a few days before hatching. This helps synchronize their entry into the world. The eggs all hatch within a few hours despite being laid over 14 days.
Despite the odds against them, Mallards are North America's most common and widespread duck. They are resilient birds. In urban areas, they habituate to people and offer opportunities for close observation. This opportunity does not exist in most rural areas where hunting makes ducks extremely wary.
A few of our local parks have particularly tame mallards. You can stand 10 yards away, and after an adjustment period of a few minutes, they go about their normal routine. This includes periods of relative calm, where the birds rest and preen; however, for much of the year, their lives consist of the boys trying to impress the girls.
This makes Mallards quite funny. The males are constantly calling, displaying, and chasing each other and the females. A common sight is to see males chasing each other as they splash and dive into the water. After a confrontation, all the birds immediately release their stress by vigorously flapping their wings and bathing. This behavior reveals an important life lesson. We need to move. We must dance it out, shake it out, and embrace movement to release our pent-up tension.
These chases and confrontations are performed in hopes of forming pair bonds over the fall and winter. The females are in charge. They choose males based on plumage, the brightness and color of their bill, the frequency of displays, and other factors we do not understand.
When a female chooses a male, his social standing increases. He is one of the chosen ones. He now occupies his space with a certain gravitas. An element of positive thinking shapes his demeanor. We could learn a lot from Mallards, or we could follow the advice of Dr. Ellen Langer at Harvard.
She studies mind-body unity and conducts research into the power of positive thinking. Her data and subsequent insights into the power of the human mind are astonishing. The way we think has a profound effect on our bodies. You can, to a remarkable degree, manifest wellness or illness based on how you think.
Of course, there are challenges and limits, but it is generally best to think positive thoughts. To trust that transformation is possible. We all need a challenge out in front of us. Something to reach for just beyond our comfort zone. That is where the magic resides.
Male Mallards are full of iridescent magic; they are stunningly beautiful. The females, on the other hand, are subtle beauties; they possess a certain maternal repose and an elegant beauty awash in tawny tones. They observe the males with quiet confidence and a discerning eye. They know they are in charge.
Mallards and people shine are luminous. We are embodied stardust with a twinkle in our eyes. We both possess an eagerness to fly. But unlike us, Mallards are true to their nature. They are in and of the moment. They beckon us to reside in the moment with them. To bring our presence to bear in the here and now. To hold our time together with a light touch that makes space for unfolding relationships. Can we be as true to ourselves as a bird?
We watch them, they watch us. It is a sacred dance. Birdwatching is a desire to live a dream, to be released from the earthly realm. Mallards show us the body can take flight and become ethereal. We can transcend the cultural norms that weigh us down. We can follow the Mallard into the sky, into the clouds, and into our birthright as divine beings.
Our minds can take us there.
Your life is your life
Don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
Be on the watch.
There are ways out.
There is a light somewhere.
It may not be much light but
It beats the darkness.
Be on the watch.
The gods will offer you chances.
Know them.
Take them.
You can’t beat death but
You can beat death in life, sometimes.
And the more often you learn to do it,
The more light there will be.
Your life is your life.
Know it while you have it.
You are marvelous
The gods wait to delight
In you.
Charles Bukowski, The Laughing Heart
Mallards are by far my favorite wild waterfowl. I help rescue them and they are more like dogs...smarter actually. Plz do not get offended by that comment. I'm a true "dog person"...but a "mallard mom"! I could go on and on about them and often do. So much that at work (my paying job) ppl often get tired of me talking about ducks lol. This article I truly appreciated and I know my husband will as well. You really hit the mark in even the title. Every word was 💯. That is why I will NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE COULD HUNT THEM. If they ever got to know any of these fine ladies and gents and how hilarious and intelligent they are...they never could again. All of the ones I watch over know their names. They all work as a huge team even if they don't get along...they protect each other. They are truly amazing. Ty for this article!
Excellent essay Bill. I did not know those statistics on the Mallards and now I have even more respect for the ones I do see. Really nice poem as well by Bukowski.