Duck, Duck, Goose

I spent two and one half hours this morning watching ducks -- and I got paid for it.

The USDA wants to sample our population of ducks at Alumni Pond on the NMSU campus and test them for avian flu. I hooked them up with the local citizen volunteer who monitors the duck population. My job was to help out if needed, and, I guess, to be the official university representative in case anyone thought we were messing with the ducks.

I did a lot of standing around. The ducks were attracted by the cracked corn, but as soon as the blanket net was raised a foot, they skedaddled back to the pond. Then they tried a pole net over individuals foraging for insects in the rosemary; that didn't work, either. Next was the pole net over the two sleeping (we thought) just at the edge of the water, but they were too alert still. The makeshift corral we set up was far too menacing; even the dismembered bagels inside it weren't tempting enough.

We left the corral by the pond, with the bagels and corn inside, hoping that the ducks would check it out after we departed and not be afraid of it when we try to use it again tomorrow. We'll be back at 6:00 a.m., a cold, dark time to be failing at trapping ducks, but we're going to use Iams MiniChunks, which are, apparently, irresistible to ducks. Maybe we'll get lucky and I'll find out how to test a duck for avian flu (although I'm not too keen on the thought of sticking swabs or something into duck orifices).

Incidentally, in case you're interested, the following species (or breeds) were on the pond this morning.
Canvasback
Northern Shoveler
Blue Swedish
Pekin
Mallard
American Coot
Ross's Goose