I have only seen mandarins once before, but they didn’t *count* on my Ebird lists because they were “captive”
(though there was nothing holding them in, but I suppose they were in someone’s yard pond, lol!) They are just sooo cute though. Are the two white ducks in your picture Mandarins? Never heard of them being white but they look just like them. Goldeneyes are really cool, we saw a Barrows last year, which is rare for our area, but often we see commons in the winter months. Do you have a hooded merg male to go with the female in your pic? They are incredible. A year ago we lived in a house with a community pond in our backyard and saw almost every type of wild waterfowl there. You’re making me miss that so much. Just looking out the back window and watching all of the gorgeous wild ducks!
When we move again this year to a place with more property, I am tempted to build a pond and get some mandarins, however in reality even if I do build one, it probably won’t be enclosed (so I can hopefully have wild ducks coming) so mandarins won’t stick around
I researched it last year but then kind of gave up on it. We will see though! Knowing now that you have a lot of breeding mandarins makes me want to re-open that dream.
Also wondering if you have or have had buffleheads? I love them so much, they are so beautiful!
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