Every spring, as the lakes begin to thaw, I look forward to heading to the shorelines of the many bodies of water here in the Kawartha Lakes.

Ducks and waterfowl are some of the first migrants to begin returning from the south and they congregate along the shorelines. Even while there is still ice on the lakes these birds begin to show up. Some of them are local residents and others are just stopping off for a rest and refuelling break on their way farther north. Whichever it is, one thing you can count on is lots of action.

There is plenty of competition for food as they are hungry from their long flight north and these birds are also beginning to go into their mating season. The males are full of testosterone and competition to find a mate is high. Unlike eagles, hawks and many raptors and even geese and swans, most ducks do not mate for life. Each year they find a new........

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