MiniD - mandarin duck - ever seen one of these?

[LePaul]

Wow, the water looks amazing in those pics Mini took

[ChickenHawk]

Originally posted by beet1e

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

It's not native to North America but I actually saw one in the wild in Southern Oregon about three years ago.  No idea how it got there.

[Heretic]

I am an avid waterfowler.    I belong to many waterfowl related websites.    Yes, there are Mandarins in the USA.   Many are kept in aviaries.

There is also a breeding colony in the western USA that is wild.

We had two at our local park that were there for a few years.    I have not seen them in some time.     They may have died off or were sent some where else.     A very regal duck.

[Siaf__csf]

I tried to set up a fast food joint which offered freshly cooked Peking duck while they waited.

I went bankrupt in a week. Don't people like duck or what?

[SlapShot]

A lot of people are afraid of swans, but they're not aggressive.

Ummm ... I lived on a salt pond in Rhode Island for a couple of years and from first hand experience I can confidently say that they are aggressive. I had to always keep a vigile eye out for them when my son played out in the yard.

The swans that you see probably have a lot of exposure to people, hence thier docile somewhat trusting nature. Try and walk up on them when they have their little ones around. You will see a different side to their demeanor. The swans on my salt pond had very limited exposure to people and they appeared to me to be very territorial.

They are beautiful, but dangerous to kids and small to medium size dogs.

[beet1e]

Hey slapshot, I think you're right. The swans along the Thames are used to people, and know the drill. You only have to stand on the bank and they'll swim over, expecting to be fed. I was once told that a swan can break a man's leg with a blow from its wing.  Maybe I'll post a film of swan feeding. I know you always enjoy my films.

[Mini D]

I'm not really up on swans as I haven't seen any here.  We get some massive migrations towards the coast, but I haven't been out there this winter.

The main agressive bird down here is the Canada Goose.  They're a bit tame places, but you inevitably see one going after someone that pushed the wrong button.  Last week I saw this idiot think it would be cool to try to catch one of the honkers.  Some people asked him to stop.  I was actually hoping he succeeded.  You can't get much more of a reality check than having your bellybutton kicked by a goose.

[Siaf__csf]

I've been attacked by both geese and swans. Actually the swan attacked my 3 year old boy that went too close to him. I had to pull him away before the bird got him.

[SlapShot]

Originally posted by Mini D
I'm not really up on swans as I haven't seen any here.  We get some massive migrations towards the coast, but I haven't been out there this winter.

The main agressive bird down here is the Canada Goose.  They're a bit tame places, but you inevitably see one going after someone that pushed the wrong button.  Last week I saw this idiot think it would be cool to try to catch one of the honkers.  Some people asked him to stop.  I was actually hoping he succeeded.  You can't get much more of a reality check than having your bellybutton kicked by a goose.

They are bad ass. I worked for a Vet that had 4 of them (some kind of goose) and they pretty much stuck around the property. God forbid if another dog wandered into the yard. Head down low to the ground ... and a dead sprint to the target ... and they can accelerate like mad. Saw many a dog running for his life with 4 geese hot on his tail.

Check 6 ... HONK !!!!

[Airhead]

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!

Toad, the best Chinese food this side of Bejing is The Mandarin at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.

It's pretty spendy, but it's the best.

[Toad]

Been to the Wharf a bunch. Never even thought of Chinese, always went for Seafood. We hit Chinatown for Chinese.

If I ever get out there again, I'll look for it though. I've had PD a lot in NYC's Chinatown; good stuff.

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

MiniDork, you may be gay because you take bird pictures, but you do take some real nice photos. But you're still gay, they're just amazing quality because you excel at your gay bird photo taking.
-SW

[Mini D]

I'm not a very good photographer, at least not in any sense that makes my stuff "art".  I don't have an eye for composition and would totally suck doing anything in regards to scenery or composed shots.  Taking pictures of birds is like taking pictures of nekkid women: They do all the work, you just have to be in the right place at the right time.

[bunch]

I saw some Cedar Waxwings today.  Amazingly smooth looking birds, must have an excellent glide ratio.