Birders
Related: About this forumStunning, rare Mandarin duck mysteriously appears in Central Park
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/11/01/rare-mandarin-duck-mysteriously-appears-new-york-central-park/1843323002/A duck native to East Asia is making a splash in New York City's Central Park, partly because of the bird's stunning colors and also because no one knows how the bird got there.
The Mandarin duck was spotted as early as Oct. 10, according to a Twitter account that documents bird sightings at the park. Then, the exotic bird flew away and no one knew where it went for almost two weeks, David Barrett, the creator and manager of Manhattan Bird Alert, told The New York Times. To photographers' delight, it was spotted back on Oct. 25.
Since then, the duck has attracted a large fan base and a small band of paparazzi.
The new pond celebrity is easy to spot with a green and purple mohawk, sail-like feathers and purple chest.
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littlemissmartypants
(22,417 posts)Something that good looking deserves an entourage if not a partner. So magnificent!
Thanks for sharing this, jpak.
♡lmsp
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)night, I think Colbert or John Oliver. I love this story and it is cool that he/she has their own paparazzi following and fan base.
MontanaMama
(23,238 posts)which most likely means he was raised in captivity and escaped or was kicked loose. The info on the band would tell the story. Heres a thread with the video:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211349105
2naSalit
(86,031 posts)he was caught in a population count on a migratory path, banded and released. There may be reporting contact info included on the band.
MontanaMama
(23,238 posts)A Mandarin in NYC is so very far off its migration path that its just much more likely it was bred in captivity closer to where folks are seeing him. Maybe someone will be able to get info off the band so we know for sure. It is fascinating! Mandarins are closely related to Wood Ducks which is probably why this one has made friends with a Woody on that pond. Im glad hes got a pal.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_duck
Woodys and Mandarins are the only two of the same genus: Aix.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)3Hotdogs
(12,197 posts)"Get your sorry ass out'a here."
2naSalit
(86,031 posts)Mandarin Duck served on a bed of cilantro... or is that water cress?
BigmanPigman
(51,430 posts)2naSalit
(86,031 posts)inspired that thought. I hadn't seen a picture of it yet so I am glad that the OP did! It's beautiful!
MontanaMama
(23,238 posts)and instead of editing I thought Id add something else here...my husband has been a bird taxidermist for 30+ years and he just watched the video...he noted that the wings hadnt been clipped which they often are when birds are bred and kept in captivity. His sails are intact. That could mean this beauty WAS blown way off course OR he was bred here and escaped before he molted his flight feathers and hes grown them back. Its a mystery and lovey to see him.
TNNurse
(6,911 posts)there are lots and the color is amazing.
2naSalit
(86,031 posts)catchnrelease
(1,941 posts)Mandarins are commonly kept in private collections, so my guess is that he is an escapee. Especially if he has a band. But who knows, unless someone can get him and check the band it will remain a fun mystery.
I'm in SoCal and we've had some lone flamingos show up in places where they shouldn't be. Recently one was hanging around out in an estuary North of San Diego. The zoo there said they were not missing any birds. You were able to see the plastic leg band that is typically used on flamingos, and in a photo with it's wings open you could see that some of it's flight feathers had been clipped. So the assumption was that it's feathers had grown out enough to get some lift and it escaped it's 'home' collection.
cab67
(2,962 posts)PJMcK
(21,916 posts)Even the ducks in New York welcome visitors from across the pond, (ahem).
The full article is here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/31/nyregion/mandarin-duck-central-park-pond.html?module=inline
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,483 posts)Otherwise, he'll be in detention waiting for deportation.
Unless he has a job with a Republican corporation (political quack) or farm (guard duck).....