Cambridge, Mass.
1909.
March 16
(No 3)
  The Gooseanders avoided the ice and kept,
for the most part, away from the Black Ducks in
a large expanse of open water on the western side
of the pond. There were 19 drakes in full plumage
and 12 females or young males (not to be certainly
distinguished from one another at such distances as
we saw them this morning). For the first half
hour or so most of the drakes were constantly
engaged in courting the females. Unfortunately we
were at this time on Hemlock Point and the
birds were fully half-a-mile away. But on the
calm water and in the clear morning light they
could be seen very distinctly through my strong glass
and I do not think I was in any respect deceived
as to what they did although their apparent silence
may have been due to the fact that I was too far
Goosanders in Fresh Pond