Ducks are among the best known and best loved birds. In fact, they are so associated in our minds with childhood stories and playing in parks that they are almost more a part of our culture than a part of our wildlife heritage. Of all the ducks in the world, the Mallard is front and centre the epitome of his tribe.
Mallards occur naturally all over North America from Alaska to Mexico, and across Europe to China and Japan. Their popular appeal, however, is such that they have been introduced to many other parts of the world. In fact, our white domestic duck has been bred from Mallard ancestors. Although Mallards are definitely not a symbol of the wilderness, they truly are a symbol of our wetlands, especially wetlands that are threatened by human development and agriculture. As such, this Mallard is an appropriate choice for the 10th anniversary of Wildlife Habitat Canada and my painting "Early Winter - Mallard Pair" which inaugurated the Wildlife Habitat Canada stamp and print program. I unveiled In His Prime - Mallard at a WHC conference on Stewardship of Private Lands in British Columbia in March 1994.
This happens to be a Vancouver Mallard. I tried to capture a memorable but fleeting moment. He had just finished preening and was spreading his perfect plumage and thrusting his chest in a pose full of health, vigour and pride. I hope that our wetlands will have a future of health and vigour and that we and future generations will think of them with pride and not as wastelands.