Madame and Monsieur

Madame

This spring, my backyard ground feeder has been frequented by a pair of Mallard Ducks. Madame and Monsieur, as they have now been named, arrive early evening to dine on the cracked corn scattered on the ground by the neighborhood wildlife. Surrounded by hyperactive squirrels and bickering crows, Madame and Monsieur quietly eat, ignoring the chaos. When full, the two fly towards the bay, a short flight west of the house.

But Sunday was a different story. The two appeared around noontime but didn’t seem all that interested in the corn. Monsieur wandered half way up the hillside, sat down in the leaves and quickly fell asleep. Tucking her right leg under her wing feathers, Madame stood closed by.

I gathered up my camera equipment and walked outside towards the pair. Madame was unperturbed by my presence, allowing me to move my tripod and camera to within 15 feet of her. I set the camera to video and watched. At first Madame continually surveyed the yard, her head turning back and forth. Her body remained still, an amazing feat considering that the entire time I watched her, she balanced her bulky frame on one leg. After awhile it was obvious that Madame needed a nap too. She began to close and open her eyes in a vain attempt to stay awake. Exhaustion soon overwhelmed her and Madame fell asleep, still standing on one leg.

I folded up my tripod and walked silently back to the house as not to disturb their afternoon nap. The two slept for another 15-20 minutes, then flew off.

Using the Birds of North America website (www.bna.birds.cornell.edu) I read that this behavior is common in Mallard Ducks. Upon finding an open area, safe from predators and sheltered from the wind, Mallard Ducks will use the midday sun and warmth to bathe, preen and sleep. Mallards have a two hemisphere brain that independently regulates the opening and closing of their eyes. This independent function allows the bird to sleep with one eye closed and the other open in order to remain on guard for predators. Something to look for the next time Madame and Monsieur come by to nap in the yard.

Monsieur