Wild Ducks!

One of nature's most spectacular shows

By Brian M. Collins

Published: April 28, 2011

Photo by BRIAN M. COLLINS

The scene plays out often – though not often enough – in the spring seasons of life. Cycles of drama, color, dance and song swirl up in avian clouds from river grasses, gathering energy, power and direction. Light reflects back in iridescent blue, green and violet hues.

In the sky there is coordinated midair ducking, darting and a whooshing of wings while below, another flock runs on water. The babbling, chortling, wheezing and quacking reveals astonishing diversity, and my eyes find all the shapes and colors bedazzling in the rising sun.

Read more about one of nature's most spectacular shows.

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