It’s a Fight, Duck!

While on an end of October walk around Colonel Sam Smith Park in Etobicoke, I witnessed a fight. No one is likely to press charges, though, despite some thumping, crying and even biting.

Photo of Gadwall Fight 1 on NaturalCrooksDotCom
At first these birds just seemed to be in a race.

Young Gadwall Picks a Fight in the Duck Pond at Colonel Sam Smith Park

The loud slapping noise these Gadwall were making made me stop and watch as they fought for several minutes in the duck pond. I’m used to seeing some aggression between rival male ducks in the spring but this seemed like the wrong time of year for such a violent display.

Photo of Gadwall Fight 2 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

The attack began with a splash.

Photo of Gadwall Fight 3 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

You could hear their wings slapping each other from metres away.

Photo of Gadwall Fight 4 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

I’m not sure if there was some taunting going on or not but you can see it’s picking up speed again.

Photo of Gadwall Fight 5 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Apparently drowning your opponent is allowed–that’s a head peeking up underneath the charging duck’s bill.

Photo of Gadwall Fight 6 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Water was flying every where.

Photo of Gadwall Fight 7 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

They don’t seem to know when to quit.

Photo of Gadwall Fight 8 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

And just like that — it was over! I have no idea who won. This guy looks happy though.

Duck dynamics are difficult for me to discern.

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