Author Topic: MiniD - mandarin duck - ever seen one of these? (Read 631 times)

beet1e · « **on:** March 12, 2005, 01:18:40 PM »

During the winter months, a popular Sunday afternoon activity is to go to one of the many rivers around here to feed the ducks. In the summer months they are not interested because they feed on weed off the river bed. But in the winter months they are highly appreciative of bread fed to them from the river bank.

One time, I saw the strangest duck I've ever seen - see the pic. I had never seen one before, but later found out that it was a Mandarin duck. I was convinced that it was a kid's toy that had been floated on the river, and stood there looking for the string - until the duck moved its wings and head.

Does this breed of duck exist in America? Is it rare?

(Photo reduced in size to fit frame)

Toad · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2005, 01:37:28 PM »

The Mandarin is actually an Asian duck. They were probably brought to the UK somehow. I doubt they flew that far.

We have a cousin of the Mandarin here, called the Wood Duck. It's native to North America. I can attest that it tastes pretty good, too.

Quote

As indicated in their physical and behavioral simlarities, the wood duck and mandarin are close relatives. They are the only members of the genus Aix and belong to the perching duck tribe Cairinini. They have rather sharp, long claws enabling them to live effectively in a forest environment and climb on and nest inside tree cavities.

Mandarin:

Woodie:

Saintaw · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2005, 01:56:57 PM »

It's tasty too.

Edit: damn Toad beat me to it

SOB · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2005, 05:22:08 PM »

All of the mandarin ducks that I've seen have been more crispy and had less feathers. Definitely not as colorful either!

gatso · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2005, 06:23:54 PM »

We keep Carolina Wood Ducks. They're cool. One of the species that the DFFE now classifies as being wild in the UK along with the mandarin and a few others.

Gatso

Toad · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2005, 08:59:43 PM »

Hey, SOB..... you know any Chinese places up there that do a good Peking Mandarin duck?

I'd fly up to try that!

Mini D · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2005, 09:49:43 PM »

What toad said. We do have wood ducks all over though. I took this last week:

NUKE · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2005, 09:51:42 PM »

why does that look almost exactly like a pic you posted awhile back MiniD?

Mini D · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2005, 10:01:29 PM »

It's at the same place:

SOB · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2005, 10:38:20 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Toad
Hey, SOB..... you know any Chinese places up there that do a good Peking Mandarin duck?

I'd fly up to try that!

Nah, unfortunately no. I've only had it once, and it was quite a while ago...was at a place in Chinatown in Portland, but I don't know which. And it was good, but since that was the only time I had it, I don't know how it was compared to other places.

bunch · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2005, 11:43:20 PM »

Mini D, you got those photos at the Rhododendron Garden?

Nash · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2005, 11:49:44 PM »

The first and only time I had duck was and will be the last.

It was a real nice French restaurant and everything, but the duck was basically in the shape of a duck, and just flipped over on its back.

It was the first time I ordered meat which actually looked like something.

shreck no, that was disgusting. Meat shapes from here on out.

Toad · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2005, 11:52:20 PM »

You must love Chicken McNuggets.

Mini D · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2005, 12:23:56 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by bunch
Mini D, you got those photos at the Rhododendron Garden?

Yeppers. On the bridge facing back towards the reeds. Most of the kinglet and stellar's jay photos I have are also from the Rhododendron Gardens.

beet1e · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2005, 02:26:39 AM »

It's fun feeding the birds! A lot of people are afraid of swans, but they're not aggressive. I let them take the bread from my hand. The more mature birds take it gracefully, the younger ones tend to grab - and that beak has a "hacksaw edge" which has been known to break a layer or two of skin!

This adult swan is not one of the Queen's swans, as she has been tagged - I think it's a female - miniD?