Dabblers

Original available (20x14 in.) $2000.00

Pkg. 6 Christmas cards/envelopes, (5x7) $18.00

Mallards are often referred to as dabblers or dabbling ducks , a classification of waterfowl that feed on the surface or in very shallow water. Feeding off the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior very near the Duluth ship canal, the mallards here are a prime example.. The size of these large ducks tells us that they mustve come from very far to the north as local mallards are not anywhere near this size. Only needing open water, this group of about 100-150 mallards arrived shortly before Christmas and stayed all winter, perennials that show up each year.

With the winter of 2013-2014 being the second coldest on record in Duluth and the coldest in 137 years, late February saw even the ship canal freeze over, Lake Superior was frozen as far as the eye could see. With all that ice the mallards disappeared along with another group of perennials, 200-300 oversized common goldeneyes, until the canal reopened. The goldeneyes are known as divers or diving ducks , at times going to great depths to feed. Around the first of March, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder began breaking ice for the upcoming shipping season in the harbor, the ship canal and far out in the Lake until they reached open water. With the ship canal opened, the mallards and goldeneyes returned, making the remainder of the winter look as if it were July.

Original (20 x 14 in.), $2000.00

Pkg. of 6 Christmas cards/envelopes (5x7 in.), $18.00