Matt Trujillo Photography
Feral Mandarin Duck (Two)
Posted by Matt Trujillo Photography (Portland, United States) on 29 April 2007 in Animal & Insect.
Aix galericulata
Helen from Melbourne, Australia
These birds are just so unbelievably beautiful. It is difficult for me to believe that they could be feral. The detail you capture is unbelievable. How were you set up when you took this? Tripod? distance? lens? etc
29 Apr 2007 7:21pm
@Helen: Luck and luck once again Helen. The Mandarin Duck is very closely related to the Wood Duck, which is native to North America. The Mandarin is native to Asia with a large population existing in Great Brittan due to private collectors of yore. (I just like to say "yore".) I can find no record of a naturally existing population in North America, though they are apparently traded as pets. My prior posts of Wood Duck chicks may in fact be Mandarins, as the females and chicks look so much like Wood Ducks that they are hard to tell apart. Prior to this sighting, I had only seen photographs of Mandarins on the internet, and found it depressing that I might have to visit a zoo to see one.
As for this short series of photos:
The perfect Wood Duck drake shot has been my goal for quite some time now, as they are rather skittish and tough to light. They only sport their spectacular plumage during the mating season. I had found a spot on the pond's edge which was being frequented by three drakes, a single hen and nine hatchlings. The waters edge is about four linear meters from this spot, and about three meters higher than the water-line. There is plenty of cover.
I set a Manfrotto tripod with large ball-head, a Canon 400mm L-lens and a cable release. I had planned on getting the Wood Ducks, so I adjusted my focus, exposure, etc. on the empty patch of water where I thought they might appear. Then I waited.
Two Wood Duck chicks emerged from a blackberry bramble, followed by two drakes (images I posted earlier) then came the Mandarin. He allowed me four frames before taking flight with the two Wood Duck drakes. A hen appeared a short time later, collected the chicks and led them home.
I've not seen them since, nor has anyone I've spoken to at the wetland. If I didn't have these shots, I'd doubt my own memory of the sighting.
Jen from Jessup, United States
This is absolutely gorgeous! The duck itself is just fabulous, but the colors and reflection make this a GREAT image!!
29 Apr 2007 11:57pm
Helen from Melbourne, Australia
As I suspected ..... there is luck, but patience and savvy counts for quite a deal. Congrats. Your photos are one of those 'petites plaisirs de la vie' for me when I visit Am3.
30 Apr 2007 10:40am
@Helen: Thanks Helen. Though I rarely comment, I feel quite the same about your photos. They allow me to travel without suffering commercial flights.
Rene from Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada
Funky looking birds for sure, nice capture and now you have the photo's to remember the day :)
4 May 2007 4:44am
Herbert from Meerkerk, Netherlands
Where was this taken? THose animals have their origin from the east...but pop up in nature everywhere in the world...
17 May 2007 7:31am
@Herbert: This was taken outside Portland, Oregon in the U.S. I was just as startled as you might think.
I was going for this shot http://mtrujillo.aminus3.com/image/2007-04-22.html when the animal appeared. It was flocking with two native Wood Duck drakes, and allowed me four frames before taking flight. I have not seen it since.
The better shot is http://mtrujillo.aminus3.com/image/2007-04-21.html
