200 hen mallards

[krout81]

I did a round of golf at North shore golf course and at the 12th hole there was a large water hazard.  On the side of the water and in the fairway there was at least 200 mallard hens.  I did not see any ducklings or a single greenhead.  any thoughts as to why they are still here?  I was thinking mates all got killed so strength in numbers.

[HunterDan3]

More than likely there were drakes in the flock. In the summer time drake mallards go through a process called molting, this process leaves the drake mallard with little resemblance to the male details... like green head. In other words the molting makes them look like a hen

[Colin]

My understanding was that they are immature birds that haven't come into their first color. I think one of the only ways to tell them apart is from the white wing stripes. I never can though.

[h2ofowlr]

Probably still not starting to color up yet.  Usually takes place August & Sept.

[krout81]

Nope they all had the hen mallard blue on the wings.  So do they mold the gray too?

[Bigshooter]

Lesbians

[krout81]

Lol.  I looked at em all pretty close,  I have seen pairs with ducklings all over just thought it was weird.  Maybe they are all pairs with no babies

[h2ofowlr]

 

[bowtechian]

Any chance they may have been gadwal ??

[wa_archer]

most likely molting and juvenile drakes, have to pay attention to the bills, hens orange, drakes yellow that doesn't change.

[krout81]

Went back to course and they are starting to change.... Guess its a bunch of hold over pairs that didn't have any ducklings.   Maybe they will be inclined to come visit my decoys opening day :-)

[270Shooter]

I'm sure they were just a bunch of juveniles with se mature hens mixed in.

[McCRIZZLEY]

The juvenile male in the image above has a pretty orange beak...

[wadu1]

I did a round of golf at North shore golf course and at the 12th hole there was a large water hazard.  On the side of the water and in the fairway there was at least 200 mallard hens.  I did not see any ducklings or a single greenhead.  any thoughts as to why they are still here?  I was thinking mates all got killed so strength in numbers.

I'll check them out and see, it's only 5  minutes away from me. Yesterday at about 1500 (4:00) I saw about 75+ geese near the pond and on the fairway.

[jkononen]

I thought 1500 was 3:00?