Today I saw something I've never ever seen before. In the man-made retention pond beside the Kroger's in Fairborn, Ohio, I spotted two small ducks paddling around contentedly. They were black and white and had markings I've never seen before.
I parked by the lake (my wife was in the nearby eye doctor's office), and tried to get close enough to the two ducks to get a photo. Needless to say, they weren't cooperative and kept navigating away as I approached. I snapped a couple of too-far-away photos with my iPhone anyway and returned to my vehicle.
I have a bird identification app on my iPhone (doesn't everybody?) and tried to identify said ducks. No luck.
Figuring these were migratory birds, I did a general image search for black and white migratory ducks in Ohio. Sure enough, after a couple of clicks, I identified my mysterious friends as Bufflehead Ducks. I found out a lot about this species of small marine diving ducks - and noted that Ohio is indeed on their migratory route, and 1 Nov is a likely time to spot 'em in Ohio. I even found out how best to cook 'em! I certainly didn't need to know that part!
The two I spotted were both male. I know nothing about migratory Bufflehead ducks, but it seemed unusual, to me, that the pair were both male. I would have guessed a male/female pair. Maybe these two were just best friends. Or perhaps they had a gay relationship - I've heard of gay penguins, so why not gay Bufflehead ducks? In my insensitive late-1950's schoolboy vernacular, that would make them "homo-ducks."
The name Bufflehead is derived from "Buffalo Head," in reference to the rather enlarged head of the male. (The photo above, I did not take, but found online.)
Speaking of identifying ducks - I've got a story for you. Trust me, this all relates.
Back in the early 1980's I had to travel frequently to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. My main point of contact there was a guy named Darwin Moss. He and I spent a good deal of time together over a 2-3 year period. He and I had a shared interest in black powder revolver shooting.
As senior intelligence analyst in my work group, it was part of my job to train and mentor junior analysts and as it happened I made a trip to Huntsville with a junior analyst named (and I'm not kidding) Don Johnson. He was a very bright young man and I was enjoying my role as mentor.
As it happened, one afternoon he and I deplaned in Huntsville and took a rental car to Darwin's office on Redstone. As we entered his work space, I introduced Don to Darwin and we were all seated around Darwin's desk.
Behind Darwin's desk, mounted on the wall, was an impressive array of five different species of colorful taxidermy (stuffed) ducks. Darwin, you must know, was an ardent fisherman and duck hunter. I knew from my previous visits that Darwin had had one of each species of duck he'd shot stuffed and mounted behind his desk. I'd even heard his wager before - but I was unprepared for what followed.
As we were admiring his display of stuffed ducks (they were hard to ignore), Darwin issued this familiar challenge, "....and I'll give $50 to anybody who can name all five of those ducks."
As before, I was at a loss - knowing nothing about ducks. I looked over at young Don and he said straight-faced, "Donald, Daffy, Huey, Dewey, and Louie."
I was stunned for a second. Being a serious duck hunter, Darwin was not particularly amused, but I thought that was the funniest damned thing I'd ever heard. I had a robust laugh at Darwin's expense and allowed as how Don had indeed "named all five of those ducks." Darwin wouldn't pay up, though. I figured the laugh alone was worth $50.
Don was killed a couple of years later in a tragic traffic accident. I wrote his grieving parents and told them the duck story.
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