Old Willow and Mallards

One of the most spectacular areas to observe waterfowl in winter is California's Sacramento Valley. Vast flocks of ducks and geese come here to rest and feed in preparation for the spring breeding season. Long aware of this phenomenon, but without an opportunity to see it, I was delighted to receive an invitation to visit the Berry Patch in the heart of this waterfowl mecca.

Many years ago, an enlightened group interested in waterfowl formed the Berry Patch Club. They have improved conditions for the wintering species and for summer breeding. As it serves in a sense as a sanctuary, it is an ideal place for observation because the birds are relatively tame.
During the entire length of my stay, the weather was a thick, pea soup fog. Others would have considered this a disaster; I considered this a lucky break. It allowed me to approach the birds more closely and provided the rich, interesting sense of atmosphere that I love so well.

The big old willow stump, with its sculptural form, is one of the outstanding memories of my visit. I worked very hard to place the mallards in an open, random fashion to give a sense of naturalness as well as the tranquility I felt.