I’ve been getting lots of emails about Tuesday’s events in the house. Most of them are very funny – not that many could be published.
However as it turns out Steven Joyce’s main topic of study in his top graded paper, animal behaviour, was (according to two of my colleagues with whom he has shared the joke) not the West Auckland tiger, relationships with cougars, leading reefish or the aquisitive magpie – it was the Mallard duck.
I did a search for any articles that Steven had written on my namesakes – couldn’t find any but there was plenty of info some of which is below:-
Mallard Ducks aka Wild Duck (Anas platyrhynchos; Greek for “flat-billed duck”) – also known in North America as the Wild Duck – is a common and widespread dabbling duck found in wetland areas, including parks, small ponds and rivers. It is probably the best-known of all ducks.
They are exceptionally fast flyers for their size, reaching speeds of 65 km/h (40 mph).
A Mallard has been recorded as living for 29 years.
Mallards frequently interbreed with the Americab Black Duck, Northern Pintail and domesticated species, leading to various hybrids.
Distribution / Range:
They breed throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe and Asia; but also frequent Central America and the Caribbean. They have also been introduced into Australia and New Zealand. It is now the most common duck in New Zealand.
The Mallard is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks.
The Mallard is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies
Description:
This dabbling duck is 56–65 cm length, with an 81–98 cm wingspan, and weighs 750–1000 g.
The size of the Mallard varies clinally, and birds from Greenland, although larger than birds further south, have smaller bills and are stockier. It is sometimes separated as subspecies Greenland Mallard (A. p. conboschas).
The breeding male is unmistakable, with a green head, black rear end and a blue speculum (= distinctive wing patch) edged with white, obvious in flight or at rest. Males also possess a yellow bill with a black tip, whereas females have a dark brown bill.
And through an act of Quackery they managed to GE you.
Bloody funny. May not be a good move as he might now figure out the means to defeat you.
Haha I snorted in my cup of tea at that top pic!
Nasty stuff. Warning toad Trevor
“A Mallard has been recorded as living for 29 years.”
Is that how old you were when you entered Parliament – effectively ending your life (as it does for so many pollies)
5 June eh – I thought Trevor would be more concerned about the first weekend of May.
LOL life sure moves in strange ways… too funny!
More good shit for intermediate-school researchers, Trevor. Great Job!
Please watch language. Clare
Actually, re-reading this post, should say that to Trevor too!
LOL
Tis indeed very funny 
I’ve always wanted to ask you if you were Dux of your highschool but I thought it would be too lame a pun.
I think that’s an excellent question Nicola
Nice pic Trev. Now how about the close up of you when Brownlee caught the Labour party out yesterday. Priceless!http://www.youtube.com/watchv=OkWaaS2Zy1w&feature=player_embedded
definition above doesn’t mention the meaning of its common name (mallard) ie “extremely male” – just as braggard means extremely boastful. Afraid its mating habits are not very PC!
@toad March 26, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Come on Trevor, where’s your sense of humour? It wasn’t intended nastily or homophobically – I would be the last to do that. Yep, I accept it’s your blog and you can delete whatever comemnts you choose, but I was not intending anything more than to continue in the spirit of the “humour” tag you gave the post.
Anyway, congratulations to you and Darren on making Brownlee and Joyce both look very silly in the House last Tuesday. Pity you don’t share my sense of humour though.
Toad – I’ve just remembered your comment – I thought it was good
No, wait, I’m thinking of a comment on the mining thread
I still can’t recall being offended by any comments.
Good to see you back Toad
@ Toad @ 8.52am – go back and read your link – then post an apology here.
Trevor, I am sorry if you or Red Alert readers were offended by the link. That was not my intention, and I apologise for any offense caused.