It was a rough morning on Botany Pond. Two undocumented drakes invaded this morning, and I must have spent 45 minutes chasing them around with my squirt gun. They would leave (along with Armon, who always returns), but then come back again. When they are around they will harass Vashti, even driving her off the nest, and that’s not good.
Finally Armon and Vashti were left alone, but I don’t want the undocumented ducks coming back. Also, when chasing the errant drakes away, I accidentally spooked the wood duck pair, who have taken off. I was sad because I love them so much, and I hope they return. (They’re clearly not yet nesting.) Armon goes after invaders, but not with great vigor: he’s a bit of a wuss.
But now all is quiet, and we had an epochal event a few minutes ago: four of the five red-eared slider turtles we put into the pond last fall (retrieved before Botany Pond was renovated) showed up, and all were competing for space and sun on a small rock. There are other rocks they could use, but they like the one below. I suspect the fifth turtle wandered away from the Pond at some point. This is the first time I’ve been able to see more than three turtles.
I’m exhausted: duck tending is no picnic!
Well, this is why they pay you the big bucks.
What big bucks? I’m retired!
Comment by Greg Mayer
Excellent!
The turtle completely out of the water on the left is a Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta), a subspecies in the same species as the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans); the latter is/was the most common turtle species in the pet trade, which is the likely source of the Botany Pond turtles.
The Yellow-belly was known to be in the Pond pre-renovation, and thanks to Jerry’s pictures, we know it was among the five turtles returned last fall. It’s recognizable by the more extensive yellow on the side of the face, forming a sort of sideways Y, open to the front of the turtle. We now know, again thanks to Jerry’s pix, that it has survived the winter. I think it likely that the 5th turtle is in the Pond, or died over the winter.
GCM
Great about the turtles! Hope things stabilize on the duck front.
OMG! You’re bending nature to your (unfree) will with that squirt gun!
I love those sliders! My childhood adventures at the pond near my house often involved Red-eared Sliders—and sometimes Common Snapping Turtles as well. (Beware the powerful bite!) We have Red-eared Sliders here in Washington State, too, where they are invasive and have largely displaced our beloved Western Pond Turtle. They pile on top of each other on logs all summer in Lake Washington.
They’re going to need a bigger rock.
Many opportunities for ‘Spot the turtle’ posts!
Saw the three drakes this morning apparently swimming together in harmony. Did not notice them bothering Vashti who must be safely resting in her undisclosed secure location.
I think there should be a highlights reel from the duck cam. I’m sad I missed those 45 minutes.
Oh Jerry, I’m so disappointed to have missed all of the shenanigans at your duck pond this morning. It would have been so much fun to watch you chase your undocumenteds around with your squirt gun and perhaps even have helped. But by the time we were finished with a 10am boat cruise and navigated the metra, bus and a walk it was just before midday when we were at your pond.
We have come all of the way from New Zealand, a three-week trip, the first 10 days a stop-over in Houston and then a family wedding in Fort Myers, SW Florida. Then we decided that instead of flying home from Florida, we would instead drive to Chicago and fly from there. It has been a very interesting trip.
But back to your pond. When we arrived, it was all quiet. We saw three turtles, two on the rock and one swimming, I didn’t know to look for a fourth. No sign of Armon, the undocumented drakes or Vashti. The Wood Duck drake was there but not the hen.
It was such a treat to see your pond and the University of Chicago. I have been an almost daily reader of your blog since immediately after the “Listener Seven” broke. Dawn Freshwater has resigned and is now working out her notice period and the next VC starts on 3rd August. No chance now of her organising the debate she promised you.
All the best for the hatching of Vashti and Armon’s eggs. I will await your photos of the ducklings with interest.