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--Boundary_(ID_D69Zj8tFuDu+UzNUajDNxw) Content-type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Andy Dean posed a question below about two male mallards in breeding finery that seemed to be paired up for a while in west Kentville (and Bob Lindsay replied with info' on homosexuality in the natural world and about Anne Innis Dagg). I think there's a much simpler explanation for Andy's pair of pretty males. By now many female mallards will have mated, perhaps several times and possibly with more than one male, and are now either in the nest-choosing or egg-laying or incubation stages. Male ducks of all kinds hang around in nesting areas and delay molting into eclipse drab plumage for weeks or months, on account of the chances to possibly mate some more with late females or females that lose clutches or even females who lose young ducklings. It's quite normal for such males to form not just pairs but bachelor groups that can be quite sizeable. Then when female ducks of the appropriate kind show up, there can ensue very interesting "rape-chases" that can number 2 or 3 or up to 6 or 12 or more males pursuing a single female in flight. But by all means also check out those links given by Bob Lindsay on homosexuality in nature. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville. > Date: May 3, 2011 2:34:17 PM ADT > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Seven Bridges this morning > > > On 03/05/2011 1:01 PM, andy dean wrote: >> >> .... >> Also a pair of mallard......and .....this is a serious question , >> are there homosexuals in the avian world? Since the lake opened up >> I have seen two drakes together, in fine breeding plumage every >> time I go over there, constantly in close company . >> Andy --Boundary_(ID_D69Zj8tFuDu+UzNUajDNxw) Content-type: text/html; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable <html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "> <br><div><div>Andy Dean posed a question below about two male mallards = in breeding finery that seemed to be paired up for a while in west = Kentville (and Bob Lindsay replied with info' on homosexuality in the = natural world and about Anne Innis Dagg).</div><div><br></div><div>I = think there's a much simpler explanation for Andy's pair of pretty = males. By now many female mallards will have mated, perhaps = several times and possibly with more than one male, and are now either = in the nest-choosing or egg-laying or incubation stages. Male = ducks of all kinds hang around in nesting areas and delay molting into = eclipse drab plumage for weeks or months, on account of the chances to = possibly mate some more with late females or females that lose clutches = or even females who lose young ducklings. It's quite normal for = such males to form not just pairs but bachelor groups that can be quite = sizeable. Then when female ducks of the appropriate kind show up, = there can ensue very interesting "rape-chases" that can number 2 or 3 or = up to 6 or 12 or more males pursuing a single female in = flight.</div><div><br></div><div>But by all means also check out those = links given by Bob Lindsay on homosexuality in = nature.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers from Jim in = Wolfville.</div><div><br></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Date: = </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px = Helvetica">May 3, 2011 2:34:17 PM ADT</font></div><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font = face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a = href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></font>= </div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: = 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: = #000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Re: [NatureNS] Seven Bridges this = morning</b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: = 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" color=3D"#000000"><b><br></b></font></div> = <br> On 03/05/2011 1:01 PM, andy dean wrote: <blockquote = cite=3D"mid:FA82B4BBBF5C4DFD8EDC696F193DF848@andyebc3345d2b" = type=3D"cite"> <style></style> <div><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span"= style=3D"font-size: small;">....</span></font></div> <div><font = size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial">Also a pair of mallard......and = .....this is a serious question , are there homosexuals in the = avian world? Since the lake opened up I have seen two drakes = together, in fine breeding plumage every time I go over = there, constantly in close company .</font></div> <div><font = size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial">Andy</font></div> <pre wrap=3D""></pre> = </blockquote> </blockquote></div><br></body></html>= --Boundary_(ID_D69Zj8tFuDu+UzNUajDNxw)--
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