Courtship of Tufted Ducks on the Rejecting Horse River
Two tufted ducks exchanged water plants as tokens of affection.
Recently, Black Panther Wildlife Protection Station Station Director Li Li monitored water birds in the Ruima River area of Fangshan, and photographed the entire courtship process of tufted ducks (pi ti).
Initially, a male tufted duck, having eaten and drunk enough, swam and searched for its own territory in a reed field, after finding it, it needed to guard this territory. Subsequently, this tufted duck remained motionless, resting in the waters in front of the reeds.
‘Tufted ducks are migratory birds. They appear in Beijing’s major parks wherever there are broad waters and reed areas. When migratory birds arrive in Beijing, they begin courtship. Beijing is their breeding ground.’ Li Li introduced, ‘We have been monitoring them and captured a very interesting courtship process.’
Immediately afterwards, a female bird appeared, and the male duck swam out of the reed field and rushed towards the female bird. ‘He was afraid that the female bird would be discovered and snatched by other males, so he ran and flew frantically.’ Li Li smiled.
After the two birds met, they greeted each other, then circled each other, examining and admiring each other. The male duck tried to show off his most beautiful side to the female bird, and he let out a call when he was happy. When they were mutually interested, the two birds dived down together, picking up water plants from the bottom of the water to give as gifts to each other.
‘Both sides were excited to get the gifts and started wading. Tufted ducks have semi-webbed feet, unlike ducks with fully connected webbed feet. When they wade, they are like water ballet performers, swaying their heads while wading. It’s like saying, ‘I like you, I like you!’’ Li Li introduced, Tufted ducks have two tufts of crest feathers and beautiful feathers on their necks, which move when they shake their heads, looking very beautiful. Accompanied by shaking their heads while wading, the courtship dance entered a climax.
After dancing enough, the female bird followed the male bird back home. ‘After returning to the male bird’s territory, you still need to find a place to build a nest, and you need to find a place that the female bird liked.’ Li Li told reporters, Tufted ducks like to use floating nests, which float on the water and sway with the water. In order to prevent drifting, you first need to find a few relatively long reeds as a fixed object, and then start building nests by using branches and reeds nearby.
‘Tufted ducks are becoming more and more in Beijing’s waters, and when citizens see swaying and wading birds, they are tufted ducks.’ Li Li told reporters, Tufted ducks’ courtship takes two or three days to succeed, and sometimes it takes only one day, and the pair captured here was ‘snapped’ after half a day. ‘Humans have human aesthetics, and wild animals have wild animal aesthetics. We shouldn’t disturb each other, we should respect each other and maintain a safe distance, and coexist with nature.’
Reported by Yu Lisuai and Li Li
