This is the first of a series of images that will tell the saga of the 'potted duck', a Mallard who decided to build her nest in a pot of tulips sitting in the pool of the aquatic garden at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. Suzie Mallard became quite accustomed to having people pass very close to her nest without alarming her - these gardens are heavily visited including by school children. I observed her incubating the eggs for almost a month before 7 of her 10 eggs hatched. That was when the fun really began - ramps had to be built for the ducklings to make their way out of the pool and onto the lip so that they could feed and find a safe place for their new home since they were unable to get back into the pot nest once they had jumped out.
Tomorrow I'll show Suzie's take off from the pot nest.
(Nikon D200, Nikkor 28-70mm @ 70mm, 1/160s, f/8, iso 200, monopod), Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD, April 19, 2007
Name:: jeff
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
This is a great series. I don't know how I missed it before now.
About me
My passion is nature photography. Images posted on this blog are © 2002-2008 by Bud Cline (dba, images by buddell) and all rights are reserved. No image may be used in any way without written permission.
My passion is nature photography. Images posted on this blog are © 2002-2008 by Bud Cline (dba, images by buddell) and all rights are reserved. No image may be used in any way without written permission.
Currently, I am...
Photographing: Fall scenes in MD and WV.
Photographing: Fall scenes in MD and WV.
I love this image. The Tulips are so beautiful and there nestled at their base is the female Mallard on her nest.