A pair of Mandarin Ducks, hanging out in a small
creek behind a gas station at 3300 South and 700 East
in Salt Lake City., was photographed by Eric Dawes. These
amazing-looking ducks are found in Japan year-round,
in eastern China in the winter and in a small area in southeastern
Russian in the summer. This pair must either be
very dis"oriented" or they are escapees (chances are, they're the
latter).
A male Mandarin Duck was also seen and photographed by Ted Steinke
at Layton City Pond.
And David Wheeler found one
along the Jordan River.
*****
The Mandarin Ducks are closely related to the
Wood Ducks (same
genus -- Aix) which can be fairly easily found
in Utah if you know where to look. (Regularly at
Beus Pond
near Odgen and in West Provo).
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