Love is war...

At this moment, we're working to get our boat ready for next season. There is a large canal adjacent to boatyard we work on. The yard also has its own little harbor. So when we work, we are surrounded by all kinds of water-loving birds, like ducks, coots and gulls.

It's a peaceful sight, most of the time. That's how I drew these two ducks: peaceful.

But not in the spring. Now, the ducks are at war...

For this species (like many species) spring is the time for courtship, paring up and mating. A season for love, you would think. But in the duck society, things get pretty violent. The males become  aggressive. We see them chasing around females all the time. Sometimes, a whole group of males is chasing one female in an impressive mid-air battle. Poor thing!

Fortunately, this 'war' doesn't last very long. In the summer, the season of 'love' is over and things get peaceful again.

Until next spring...