Harold and I had been sitting on the grass next to the pond for over an hour, idly watching the twenty or so floating ducks as we talked. It was one of those peaceful Sunday afternoons I didn't want to forget. Trees, reflecting on the water, fluttered gently in the slight breeze. Billowy clouds protected us from the mid-day sun. These two ponds adjacent to the apartment complex where I lived were my favorite spot to just "be". Our conversation, which had turned serious, was suddenly interrupted when Harold pointed over my shoulder and said, "Look!"

Oh no, I thought, it was The Terrible Trio! They were advancing from the lower pond to the upper pond, determination in their intense, waddling gait. The leader of the trio, Donna, was a beautiful male mallard, followed always by a nondescript smallish female. The third member, Arnold, was a huge white drake. He used to be a good guy, but had been corrupted by Donna. The Terrible Trio lived alone on the lower pond, ostracized by the main group, who had long ago recognized TTT for what they were: murderers and terrorists.

As TTT grew closer to the upper pond, topping a slight rise, they broke into a run. The ducks floating on the water took off instantly, in total panic, at the sight of the advancing hoard, paddling as fast as they could to the opposite bank. With Donna leading, TTT jumped into the water in fast pursuit. The peaceful ducks poured out of the pond and up a small, grassy knoll, but there was no escape. There were cries and quacks of terror as TTT caught up with them and circled them in battle formation, necks stretched out in rage. Donna was fearless, uncaring, merciless. He and Arnold viciously struck out at any ducks within reach.

The two terrorists raped then, repeatedly. It was a cooperative effort by all three of TTT. When Donna mounted a struggling, terrified female, both Arnold and Donna's small mate rushed over and assisted by gripping the neck of the hapless female in their beaks, holding her down, helping to control her while Arnold finished his appalling deed. The female was not released. Instead Arnold and Donna changed places and Donna held the frightened female while Arnold did his thing. Donna's small, nondescript mate was vicious in her assistance, having no compassion for the female she was helping to subdue.

The rest of the flock had fled to the water while the rapes were going on. They milled around in confusion, talking excitedly to each other, and fled in panic again when TTT jumped into the water. The forcible rapes continued there, with the females being totally submerged by the larger males on their backs, holding them down by biting and holding on the back of their necks.

There was more parrying as TTT left the pond and circled about on the bank. Donna, still on a rampage, plunged into a bushy area, chasing a female off her nest. Had there been baby chicks there, rather than eggs, Donna would have murdered them. I had witnessed such attacks by him against newly hatched chicks in previous seasons.

The peaceful ducks, in the meantime, gathered their resolve. When TTT started to reenter the water, the flock advanced on them as one, their necks outstretched, loud in their battle cries, ready at last to defend their territory. TTT gave up easily and returned quickly to their lower pond, satisfied by the havoc they had wrought.

The attack of TTT had been an outright invasion, an unprovoked attack. Would the other male ducks have done such things? As far as the rapes are concerned, yes, they would. I have witnessed four seasons of mating at these ponds, and such group rapes are a common occurrence, and no longer shock me. By the end of the season, the back of the females' necks are often bare of any feathering. It is the surest way to spot a female during the spring season.

As for the murders of the newly hatched chicks, I have seen only Donna do that. Donna had been hand-reared, by the young daughter of the apartment manager, and had not been exposed to other ducks until he was a juvenile. It is well known now that such isolation of *any* animal can have unwanted consequences. Arnold, on the other hand, was raised as a pet, in an outside pen, with other ducks. I know nothing of the history of Donna's small mate.

The Terrible Trio no longer live on the lower pond. The apartment manager, at my repeated requests, removed them to a remote pond on a nearby Indian reservation. ~~~

Martha R. Thomas
October 15, 1996
Belen, New Mexico

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