Mallard Female

by Karen Adams

Title

Mallard Female

Artist

Karen Adams

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Prints - Photography

Description

DescriptionDuck on a Lake

Sometimes I feel like a duck on a lake
Frantically paddling wondering how long it’ll take
A frenzy beneath the surface smooth
So little time, so much to do.
Apparent surface calm won’t long last
From stress of hurriedly trying to get there fast
Not even knowing what or where ‘there’ is.
Tunnel focus leads me oblivious
My journey stirs V-shaped ripples to form
Paddling through sunshine and storm
What lies behind me in the Kelvin wake?
Will anyone remember this old duck on a lake?
(ka 2020)


Male Mallard ducks are one of the most easily identifiable creatures in nature, but the females are a little less conspicuous. They do not have those beautiful glistening green heads, but they do have lovely deep Sapphire blue “speculum” patch in the wing. They are quite common in Ohio. Mallards are the most widespread and abundant duck in North America. There are quite a few who call the wetlands and lakes home that are right behind my own house. So we are neighbors who get along quite well! They are beautiful creatures who spend much of their time floating peacefully in the water foraging the shores for seed and grain. They are not picky eaters. Since they are widespread, they are also hunted widely. Like other waterfowl, Mallards can be poisoned when they ingest lead shot while feeding. In 1977, a mandatory switch to steel shot along the Mississippi Flyway helped greatly alleviate lead poisoning in Mallards. For some reason, as one of his first acts as the nation's new Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke overturned this act that banned the use of lead bullets for hunting on wildlife refuges. This species can also be affected by poor water quality, including mercury, pesticide, and selenium pollution, wetland clearing or drainage, and oil spills.

I think it is up to all of us to find ways to give respect to all life on earth and if there is some action we can take to let creatures live a full live, we should do it!





Thank you so much for looking at my images. I appreciate that very much.

I am very concerned with our environment and have decided to donate any money I make from any sales of this image to the ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND.....because the Earth needs a good lawyer! We all need to speak up and support efforts to protect our environment. We will not get a second chance!


**The watermark stamp will not appear on any purchased items. All images are protected by copyright law and cannot be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the artist.**

Uploaded

January 19th, 2020

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