‘TREVOR’ THE MANDARIN DUCK
It’s not easy being the most beautiful duck in the world!
It’s not easy being the most beautiful duck in the world!
Sometimes it can be difficult being a celebrity, even when you are a duck. People keep invading my home and my privacy and pointing cameras at me and my female friend. Some people even figure out where we are by looking for people pointing those huge lenses at us. Other people stand with their back towards me, holding some flat device in their hands and directing it over their shoulder at me. They say they are taking “selfies.” Humans can be quite silly and rather annoying.
I heard that there is a mandarin duck in some place called Central Park in New York, and that the photographers who keep pestering him are called the “quackerazzi”; that is how I now think of all those people pestering me.
I also do not understand why they insist on calling me “Trevor.” I’m a mandarin duck, after all. My name is Měilì de yāzi which means “Beautiful Duck” in English. That seems far more appropriate for someone of my lineage.
I overheard a woman who was looking in my direction ask, “Do you think he knows how fabulous he is?” Well, of course I do. I know that most of the attention is focused on me. Besides, I can see my reflection in the water with orange ruff around my neck and the stately fins on my back. When the sun shines, it shows off my iridescent plumage in shades of blue, green, orange, purple and yellow.
I have been living here in the Lower Mainland for the past three years, dividing my time between Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake. Currently, I choose to reside at a place called Piper Spit on Burnaby Lake.
My species of duck is native to Asia, and I am the only one seen in the Lower Mainland. People like to speculate about where I came from. They wonder if I escaped from or was released from a hobby farm. However, I will never tell. I must keep some secrets.
Another thing they like to wonder about is my relationship with the lovely female wood duck who is my constant companion. Other male wood ducks have tried to lure her away, but she remains loyal to me. I also
do not tolerate their presence or their attentions towards her and will give them a sharp peck if they get too close.
Humans want to know if we are mates and whether we can produce offspring or if we are just friends. Some say that it is not possible because we have different chromosomes, others say it is possible. But does it really matter? We enjoy each other’s company, and that seems more important.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
There are many other ducks to be seen here at Piper Spit, including northern pintails, mallards, mergansers, lesser scaups, green-winged teals and, of course, my close relatives, the wood ducks. Other waterbirds that are sometimes seen here are American coots with their long blue toes and sometimes a great blue heron. Earlier this year, a flock of long-billed dowitchers was seen strutting through the shallow waters. Most recently, we were joined by a pair of sandhill cranes.
There are other types of birds, as well. The crows fly overhead, making a ruckus, which almost drowns out the lovely song of the red-winged blackbirds. The blackbirds are more tolerant of the humans than I am and will even land on their hand to get some seeds. I also see the sparrows and chickadees getting quite close to obtain some food. I, on the other hand, will not approach the humans for a handout. It is undignified, and they should feel honoured to even be allowed to approach me.
I have heard the humans talking about a pandemic that makes them stay locked up and keep their distance from each other. Thankfully, they cannot give it to us. I have also heard many of them say that because of it, they have become more interested in nature and in birds. Of course, they have been interested in me all along. However, if my presence has contributed to their happiness in some way during this difficult time, then I have done my part for the world—whether or not I produce offspring! n