| I find it very interesting that some waterfowl | | | | life, and those bonds are maintained only through |
| choose mates for life, while others experience the | | | | the beginning of nesting. Males do not participate in |
| annual ritual of courtship. Geese generally choose | | | | raising the young, but they will defend the female. |
| mates for life. My research does not show this to | | | | Re-pairing is suspected for buffleheads, long-tailed |
| be true for ducks. Usually ducks go through the | | | | ducks, harlequin ducks and common eiders. |
| routine of seasonal courtship and the competing | | | | Male Ducks do not participate in raising their |
| with like-kind males of their species for the | | | | young. Seasonal pair bonding is more typical of |
| opportunity of securing a mate. As they do in the | | | | species with small bodies; species that exhibit |
| entire wild, male and female ducks choose a mate | | | | higher annual mortality, higher annual productivity |
| for the sole purpose of reproduction. I find it really | | | | and breed in highly productive environments. |
| amazing how Mother Nature has conditioned the | | | | These characteristics apply to most dabbling |
| female to search for the strongest male she can | | | | ducks and diving ducks, such as mallards, teal, |
| find for the annual courtship and continuation of a | | | | canvasbacks and redheads, to name a few. |
| duck's life cycle. Geese do not form a bond with a | | | | Seasonal bonding is common among dabblers, |
| partner until they are at least two years of age, | | | | divers, and sea ducks. I think it is important that |
| but it will be more likely in their third or fourth | | | | we learn as much as possible about our |
| year of life to do so. Geese do not nest and lay | | | | respective sports. The more I read and learn |
| eggs until their second year of life or later. Male | | | | about the sport of waterfowl hunting, the more |
| geese play a significant role in raising their young, | | | | enjoyment I get out of it. Anybody can grab a |
| including vigilance over and defense of females | | | | gun and go tromping out into the timbers. If they |
| while they are incubating and raising the young. | | | | are lucky a greenhead just might come their way. |
| Long-term pair bonding is generally observed | | | | I would rather take a little time in the off season |
| among species of waterfowl that have large | | | | and learn all I can about the sport. You should |
| bodies; live longer because of lower annual | | | | make an effort to obtain a duck hunting video, |
| mortality, exhibit low annual production (fewer | | | | you'll see the teamwork and dedication those we |
| young produced), and have slow-maturing young. | | | | admire put into the sport. I recommend the Duck |
| Ducks on the other hand, do not form long-term | | | | Commander's videos. You will soon learn there is |
| bonds, rather they form seasonal bonds, and a | | | | more to this than pulling a trigger. Remember, |
| new bond is formed each season. Ducks bond at | | | | whatever game we hunt is a gift from God. |
| their wintering grounds during their first year of | | | | |