There’s something in the air at Cary’s Fred G. Bond Metro Park — and it doesn’t take a long-lens camera to see it. In fact, news of this unexpected visitor has quickly swooped across social media and flown through Wake County photography groups.
It’s a wood duck, and he’s spread his wings by falling for a Bond Lake mallard hen.
Theirs is an unexpected relationship. So much so that although mallard and wood ducks can crossbreed, the presence of this well-plumed duck at Bond Park has caused quite a commotion among both humans and the male mallards, who are less than thrilled at their colorful competition.
For Triangle bird watchers and wildlife photographers, the wood duck’s appearance is a splendid one. Wake Living Chief Photographer Jonathan Fredin has spent years shooting mornings at Bond Park, but when he arrived on the chilly first Monday of March, he was greeted by an unexpected sight at the Boathouse: a group of photographers.
And they’ve been back every day since. Watching. Waiting. Willing some movement that can be captured by a sophisticated camera’s lens.
And the visiting love-struck paramour isn’t shy, putting on a show for those who gather in the mornings and afternoons, when duck activity is highest.
Hoping for a glimpse of the unlikely guest on March 4 was Jian Zheng. The award-winning amateur wildlife photographer developed his passion for documenting birds a few years back, while working from home. A nature lover, Jian noticed the impressive variety of birds visiting his yard. After setting out some feeders, he made the decision to start photographing them and, as he explained, gradually “expanded his view” to parks like Bond.
Social media accounts of a male wood duck-mallard hen courtship in Cary have attracted many photographers hoping to capture images of the elusive drake and the rare bird interaction.
Although his work schedule can constrain him to morning park visits, Jian is so committed to his hobby that just last month he braved a brutal negative 40 degrees in Sax-Zim Bog, northwest of Duluth, Minnesota, to capture astonishing images of the northern owls spotted this winter on the 300-mile bog.
That’s not to say there isn’t plenty to observe closer to home. Bill Carter, who worked for the parks department for 47 years and specializes in action sports photography, was also present and hoped that he would get a glimpse of the wood duck. Practicing the patience that is so necessary for wildlife photographers, it’s Bill who casually calls out “That was an eagle” and “He’s looking for his partner” about some of the other birds that make use of the pines around the lake.
And although any activity — like the mallards coming in from the left or a nest being built on a light pole in the Boathouse parking lot — causes the photographers to swiftly and almost in tandem lift their cameras, there’s no mistaking that the main event is the wood duck. He can be expected to stick around until next month, when spring is in full flight. But on this morning, the question is how long the photographers will wait to see him. Answers range from “another hour or so” to “however long it takes,” but in the meantime there will be more watching and waiting and wishing as love takes flight.
