Wood Duck on Mill Creek Tank Top

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The male Wood Duck is the most colorful and ornate duck in North America. Wood Ducks nest high up in tree cavities and they have claw like adaptations on their feet that allow them to perch on tree limbs. With the impending doom of climate change constantly cussed and discussed it is difficult to find much good news about wild animals and wild places so I was pleased to learn that Wood Duck populations are on the rise. This male was working his way upstream toward the rock I was sitting on and then at almost the exact moment this image was captured he noticed me. There was no panic on his part, just some long looks and a casual retreat back downstream.

Leaning against a tree, foot sore from endless walking through fields and fence rows, I rest, a shotgun cradled loosely in my arms. I've paused in a woodlot on the far side of my grandparent's farm. Dad is 40 yards to my left working his way through the timber with our dog. The air is cold, but the sun warms my face. It is quiet. I could take a nap right here. My mind begins to drift but something brings me back. Peeping and cooing noises slowly work into my consciousness along with the tick and scrape of leaves on the ground. The chaos of fall leaves, tree trunks and buck brush gives way to an orderly line of quail marching through the undercover in single file - bobbing their heads as they go. Less than 20 feet away the squad of...