Wednesday, May 8, 2013,

Here’s a pic of two ducks I saw at Avalon Park and Preserve, just off the Duck Pond. The duck in the background is the ubiquitous Mallard, looking just as he should. However, this guy in the foreground is looking a bit iffy. I suspect some Pekin Duck in his heritage. Pekin Ducks are those all-white ducks that are raised at duck farms right here on Long Island. In fact they are very closely related to true Mallards. Long Island’s Pekin Ducks come from a handful of birds whose ancestors were domesticated Mallards from China. Sheesh, those Mallards sure get around. They’re are just about everywhere north of the equator. That, boys and girls, points to a successful design. Darwin would be proud. JK