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One Sunday morning in June, I went over to the Huntington Botanical Gardens for a walk. At the end of a double row of statues is a large fountain. On this particular morning there were no humans about as I approached the fountain.
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There was a pair of mallard ducks swimming around in the fountain. This pair usually hung out at this fountain and in the nearby woods in the afternoon. The blooming water lily’s covered half the large pool and sometimes the ducks had to scoot through a cluster of flowers. |
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I noticed the male following closely behind the female. Then he came abreast of her and began to peck at her neck. This behavior went on for about a minute. |
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He then mounted from behind on top of the female. He kept her head and neck under water for a minute or two occasionally letting the female up for a quick whiff of air. |
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After several minutes and splashing he dismounted from the female. |
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Shortly after the roll in the water the pair climbed up on the side of the fountain, preened and dried out their feathers. Last I saw the pair was headed for the woods and an afternoon rest. |
