What an interesting job Adam was given! The English language was not then in use, but in whatever language he spoke, it was his privilege to be the first to call a duck a duck.
The mallard is the wild duck from which most domestic ducks have been bred. The male (sometimes called a greenhead) is one of the beautiful birds of God’s creation, with a glossy purplish-green head, black neck and narrow white collar. The rest of its body is brown except for 12 white tail feathers.
Millions of mallards spend summers in Canadian prairies and additional numbers are just across the United States border, particularly in North Dakota where “pothole” ponds are ideal for nesting.
Females are plain brown and, like the males, have orange legs and webbed feet. Their nests are well hidden, lined with down and feathers, usually in thick grass at the edge of a pond or lake. The hatching and training of the ducklings is left to the hen. The little ones can walk and swim expertly a few hours after hatching.
Mallards are the most common (and noisiest) of all ducks, the female’s quack being so loud it can be heard a mile away. In addition to acorns, wheat and other grains, their food includes water insects, frogs and fish. When feeding in shallow water, mallards have a “bottoms-up” position, feasting on underwater plants and insects.
They like to eat in concealed places in the daylight, but raid grain fields at night, to many farmers’ dismay. Some areas are now being planted especially for them so that they will not go into the farm fields until crops have been harvested; then they feed on the grain left on the ground.
Some mallards spend the full winter along the coasts of Alaska and western Canada, but others migrate to Texas and California before winter, returning north in early spring. Their migrations are beautiful to see as, high in the sky, their V-shaped groups with heads and necks outstretched move swiftly along.
Do you think the Lord God, the Creator, cares about birds and their nests? A Bible verse tells us He certainly does: “If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way... thou shalt not take the dam [mother bird] with the young.” Deuteronomy 22:66If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: (Deuteronomy 22:6). And if He cares about birds on their nests, doesn’t He care much more about you? The Bible answers this question also, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:77Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7). The invitation is also given, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalms 37:55Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5). Have you committed your way to Him?
ML-10/26/1986