Ducks
Mallard Ducks
General Information
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Mallard ducks are the most abundant duck in North America, as well as the most commonly hunted one. The males are known for their green head and yellow bill, while the females and juveniles are slightly less flashy with mottled orange or brown feathers. They generally nest on land, close to water.
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Mallards are dabblers, which means to eat they tip forward into the water to feed on underwater vegetation. However, they're not just limited to plants; during the breeding season they will switch to eating a lot of things like earthworms and insect larvae.
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Fun Fact: They are the ancestors of all but one type of domestic duck.
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Mallards at the Boneyard
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Mallards are very abundant at the boneyard, as seen by a quick look at either the Engineering Quad area or the 2nd street basin. At this time of year the ducks are breeding, so the creek is often filled with not only the adults, but their 6 or 7 ducklings.
White Pekin Ducks (Domestic)
General Information
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Pekin ducks are a type of domestic duck used primarily for breeding purposes. They were first imported from China in around 1850.
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Pekins at the Boneyard
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Pekin ducks are domestic and usually live on duck farms. Nevertheless, take a trip to the Second Street Basin and you'll see 3 large white ducks different than the rest. The Pekin ducks stick together, and can often be seen chasing the Mallards around the pond.
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How did they get there?
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They were dropped off and abandoned several years ago. Oftentimes ducks like the Pekin ducks are bought as ducklings for children on Easter, which is great fun for them at first. However, once they mature and the family doesn't want to be responsible for a full grown (and less cute) duck, they are often abandoned.
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