A MERCILESS FIGHT


3 Wood Ducks in a fight, Green Island Wetlands, Mississippi Valley, Iowa

No, I didn’t throw a big stone into the water. We just witnessed a merciless fight between three male Wood Ducks. It lasted only a few seconds and was probably all about the mating rights for a female. Driving along the west boundary of the bird refuge at Green Island, this scene unfolded just in front of us. Luckily I found a gap in the vegetation for pointing the lens at the birds. In areas where wildlife encounters are very likely I always drive with the camera in my lap. The camera stays turned on to increase the chance for a shot of a wildlife sighting or sometimes for an unexpected incident like this one.