(Photos: 1-- Brad looking over his charges and new team, Wiggly and Piggly yesterday. 2-- Brad, # 1 again at the Meer.)
One of the advantages of observing wildlife everyday is that one gets to catch the nuances and subtle changes in behavior and hierarchy. And in some cases, one is compelled to "eat crow." (no pun intended to the crows.)
You see, although matters may appear to be fairly constant and unchanging, the reality is that nothing in nature is exactly the same from one day to the next.
There is constant change.
I speculated in the last journal entry that if the lake at Harlem Meer doesn't freeze over this winter, Brad might actually "ditch" his two hangers-on, Piggly and Wiggly.
I now have to take that back, big-time.
An important relationship is now emerging among these three domestic ducks. And it is not just about preventing a lake from freezing entirely over during the heart of winter.
It is about much more.
Part of that more is "hierarchy."
Anyone who has followed this blog from its inception about the birds at Harlem Meer will recall there was a time when Brad and Angelina were the "dominant" birds of the lake and appeared to rule over all the others, despite their inability to fly.
When Joey (the white, Pekin duck) lost his two flock mates in the spring of 2010, Brad attacked Joey mercilessly and on a few occasions appeared to try to drown the larger white duck by holding Joey under the water. For his part, Joey never attempted to "fight back" against the dominant, but smaller bird. It seems the seeming brutality was a kind of "initiation" or "hazing" or just the simple enforcement of hierarchy. (i.e.. "trial by fire.")
All that roughness changed however, prior to last winter when Brad apparently figured Joey would be useful in helping to keep open water.
An alliance was formed among the three birds.
Brad and Angelina needed Joey. And Joey needed them if he was to have any chance of survival.
And although Joey was attacked on the ice by a dog and had to be rescued in late January, he had nevertheless helped Brad and Angelina to survive the harshest points of the winter, including a major blizzard last year.
Eventually, the winter of 2010 ended and Brad and Angelina still maintained their status quo as the "Alpha" birds of Harlem Meer, carefully monitoring all other waterfowl activities and keeping charge.
But, that all changed last spring when Angelina suddenly vanished mysteriously and Brad was suddenly the "lone duck" without a flock or mate on the lake.
Not only was Brad bereaved over the loss of his long time mate (or sibling), but his status suddenly changed from "top bird" of the Meer to something significantly much lower.
Although the mallards recognized Brad as part of the avian life on the Meer (and did not openly attack him), they did not accept him either into their flocks.
Brad was suddenly silenced and to some degree, shunned by the other ducks on the lake.
I worried of course for Brad and even talked to Park Rangers about the possibility of arranging rescue and adoption placement for Brad.
But, my concerns were dismissed with "Nature needs to take its course" although the door was left open for possible rescue during winter, should Brad become entirely deserted on a frozen lake.
Brad is of course a very strong, smart and resilient duck.
Although alone and silenced, he still maintained his own on the Meer and over time accepted his plight and challenges with courage and dignity.
Fast forward to this past fall.
As mentioned, almost three months ago, I noticed a new, "domestic" duck suddenly at the Meer one night.
The duck whom I am guessing to be a Kacki Campbell, was to put it simply, a mess.
Very skinny, seemingly weak and uncoordinated, missing feathers and herky jerky movements that were more akin to "darting" than familiar duck, "waddling." (He was therefore very difficult to photograph.)
Of course, the duck I named, "Piggly" (because he was always so hungry) had to learn to "dart" quickly as he was relentlessly attacked by the mallards.
I really would not have given a plug nickel for this frail bird's chances of survival at the Meer.
I didn't see Piggly most nights and presumed more than once that he was probably dead.
But, every now and then Piggly would desperately appear and I would try to get extra food to him despite the mallards constant pecking and harassment.
Even Brad wanted nothing to do with the new outcast at Harlem Meer and occasionally joined in the harassment and pecking of the poor, downtrodden Piggly.
And then about six or seven weeks ago, another domestic duck was apparently dropped off at the Meer!
Although in slightly better shape than Piggly, the Kacki Campbell female duck was also picked on by the mallards endlessly and ostracized.
(It is guessed, but cannot be proven that the domestic ducks who routinely show up at the Meer from time to time are perhaps "rescues" from a nearby "live poultry market." Someone apparently has good intentions, but no idea on the brutal, harsh rules of hierarchy and hostility to "aliens." The attacks are indeed, "trials by fire.")
Eventually, the two orphans or "outcasts" thankfully found each other and thus became "Piggly and Wiggly."
Some nights I would see them at the Meer together trying to hold their own against the mallards and sometimes I didn't see them.
But, I became far more confident that Piggly could then survive with the companionship and support from another bird of the same breed.
But, could these two flightless "food" ducks survive the brutalities of winter -- especially when the lake would freeze over?
Enter, Brad!
As noted, as fall began to head towards winter in the past few weeks, an "alliance" was formed between Brad, Piggly and Wiggly.
Just like last year, when Brad finally welcomed Joey to his then two-bird flock (instead of attempting to kill Joey) he seemingly did the same thing with Piggly and Wiggly this year.
Brad knows he cannot survive all alone on the ice.
And though it was kind of a cool, loosy goosy alliance at first, in the past few days, the relationship among these three birds has seemingly jelled and taken on far greater dimension.
For one matter, Brad is finally "talking" once again!
And there is now a defined hierarchy and order established among the three ducks:
#1 -- Brad
#2 - Wiggly
#3 - Piggly.
This is the order they normally swim and hangout together. Probably much of this can be attributed to the fact Brad would be far more cozy and welcoming of the girl than the boy duck. Brad and Wiggly in fact, seem to be fast becoming an "item" now and it is presumed that relationship will remain in tact and in fact, flourish past the winter.
How the relationship among the three birds evolves over the spring is of course questionable. But, my guess is that all three being of similar breed, they are actually forming a hierarchy now and are all three stronger as a whole than singularly.
Yesterday afternoon, I noticed that neither Piggly or Wiggly are attacked any more by the mallards and it seems that just as BrAdgelina were once the "rulers" of the Meer, the team of Brad, Piggly and Wiggly has now risen to similar and high status. (The "Bragglys?")
It has taken a long time for Brad to get over the loss of Angelina last spring. And I don't know that she can truly and wholly be "replaced" by another duck as the communication and closeness between Brad and Angelina was so intense and seemingly intimate.
But, Brad has seemingly regained the strength and "status" he once had with Angelina (and Joey) and there is once again the hierarchy that once so ruled the Meer.
Brad is clucking and chattering once again!
And together, with the "lowly" Piggly and Wiggly, all three ducks have risen to overcome the odds and work together as a formidable team.
Brad is again, #1 at Harlem Meer.
He holds his head high once again. -- PCA
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