Have you noticed that we have a LOT of ducks around our ponds this season? I asked Tom Gottfried if he could get some nice photos for me......and he DID.
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| Duck photos from Tom Gottfried |
Notice the beautiful white egret patiently fishing in spite of the chaos from the ducks.
A beautiful bird!
The ducks with the white heads are Wigeons
The other flocks are mallards.
I love the term "dabbling" ducks or "puddle ducks" meaning they frequent shallow waters such as flooded fields and marshes. They feed by tipping up rather than diving. When taking flight, they spring into the air instead of pattering across the water. Most swim with their tail held clear of the water and have colorful, iridescent speculum (a rectangular patch at the hind edge of the wing.)
Ducks will eat stale bread, donuts, chips, crackers, and popcorn but these things are very low in nutrition and can actually be bad for them. If you want to feed the ducks, give them something healthy; birdseed, cracked corn, peas, veggie trimmings or mealworms.
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Our SWOOP group is growing! It's a FUN game and perfect for newcomers to get acquainted. We may soon have to reserve an additional afternoon to accommodate everyone. We meet every Monday in the Adobe Room. Join us about 12:15 to get a table. Games begin promptly at 12:30.
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Our series of three iPad and iPhone classes have been popular! I've been asked to repeat again as some folks couldn't attend the first round. It's difficult to get access to the Santan Room so our next dates are January 28 and February 11. Some information may be familiar but there is always something new to learn.
January 28, Saturday, 9:30
February 11, Saturday, 9:30
I'll have a table reserved at the Club Expo coming up on January 14 in the ballroom. Stop by to ask questions or give me feedback on the completed classes.
We have some informative meetings coming up through the computer club as well. January 18 will be a speaker from the public library to talk about Social Media like Facebook and Instagram.
Wednesday, February 1, will be Jim VanNamee talking about cellphone photography.
