The Important Things

The Denizens of Bufflehead Pond

Such big ideas we had when we first set out to inhabit Bufflehead Pond Farm! The place had not been properly tended to for years, and the local ecology (mostly blackberries and stinging nettles) had pretty much taken over. Being human and with engineering and military backgrounds, both of us, we both had compelling urges to clean up, organize, remove deadfall and ugly trees, spray weed killer everywhere, hack, chop, and rototill...

The pond, now 'famous' for its winter Bufflehead Ducks and its summertime Mallards and Wood Ducks, was one of the biggest offenders.  If only we could clear out those tall reeds that threaten to choke the pond, and those nasty lily pads that seem to be spreading!  OUT with them!  Oh, and that huge weedy tree at the edge of the pond blocks our long view of the stables and beyond. Chop it down!

And so on.  You get the idea.  Clean, clear, organized, easy to manage.  That's the ideal, right? You be the judge.  What unfolds from here is the story about our new farm family and their relationships to each other and to all the things that grow in and around the pond. This sketch (above) shows a few of the more prominent members.  There are more. Future blog posts will add more detail. There's so much to tell.

First the Bufflehead Ducks. We love these little fellows for their happy diving ways, their sweet dispositions, and (let's face it) they are just too darned cute for words. We can keep an eye on the pond from every room in the house, and we keep the binoculars and the bird identification books handy at all times, just for this purpose.  For today, we introduce the two major players on the stage of Bufflehead Pond.

Mr Buffle

"Mr Buffle" is the main character for the winter.  He believes this is his pond, and although he's quite agreeable about sharing it with other Buffleheads and the occasional Mallard visitor, there was no question in any of their minds about who was boss.  To indicate his ownership, he positions himself in the exact center of the pond and grooms himself, a very ostentatious and commanding display. No one challenged him. Sadly, we never saw him with a female all winter, except for a small flock of Hooded Mergansers (cousins of Buffleheads), with whose females he flirted shamelessly, chasing them into the reeds for who knows what nefarious activities.

Observing all this from his perch in the reed patch close to shore is the Red Winged Blackbird, a dominant male who has been here the entire time we have... summer, fall, winter, and now spring... watching, waiting, keeping an eye on things.  Last fall, a large family (perhaps 25-30) of these birds gathered in the reeds each morning for a group pep talk and gossip session, meeting there again each evening to share their full reports. They nested in the big ugly weedy-looking tree that grows on the edge of the pond close to the reeds. There were times when the noise from the Blackbird Happy Hour each day was deafening... but always happy sounding. Last fall all of them disappeared on their winter migration, all except for the "Daddy Red Winged," who still hangs out in the reeds every day and keeps his eyes on all the activities in and around the pond.  Where Mr Buffle owned the water and the feeding grounds within, Mr Red Winged owned the space around and above the pond.

These are the two main characters at Bufflehead Pond Farm, the two bad boys who keep everything functioning smoothly and well balanced.  We think of Mr Buffle as the President, and Mr Red Winged as the CEO.  The other day there was a very interesting collection of ducks paddling about, not all in agreement about who gets to occupy and feed in which section of the pond.  And I swear I am not making this up: Mr Red Winged left his observation perch in the reeds and flew down, landed on a lily pad near the offending ducks to have a stern conversation with them on their level, and then returned to his reed perch, satisfied that the argument was resolved. We both saw this, amazed at this "CEO Bird" and realizing that it's not really Mr Buffle's pond after all. It totally belongs to Mr Red Winged. And to prove the point, when a young eagle came to hunt last week, this incredible little bird attacked it and chased it away.  Afterward, I did notice his chest seemed a bit more puffed out than usual.

The reeds and lily pads will have to stay, bottom line. And those pesky barn swallows that have taken over the stables? More on those amazing little guys next time... Do stay tuned!

Cheers - Dee