Dear听Duck Xi膩nsh膿ng,听
I hope this letter finds you well. I understand you recently took a little vacation from the hubbub you've been听causing听in Central Park. Did you get some rest? Was it a nice reprieve?听Did you go leaf peeping and antiquing听in the Hudson Valley? I hope so. That听part of the country is absolutely lovely听this time of year.
But I digress.听
First off, I want to thank you.听We don't know where you came from (someone's private collection maybe?)听or why you suddenly appeared (you were crushingly听lonely听with no duck friends?), but you have captured the fascination of birders and non-birders alike,听in听New York City听and around the world. That's no small thing. You've been by the听New York Times,听deemed the city's , and even got dubbed a across the pond. You have a 苍辞飞.听
There's no denying it: You are one .听
But you also aren't that special, so don't go getting a big crest, okay? Yeah, you are exotic and unbelievably听gorgeous with your dazzling plumage and majestic wing sails,听but you're听not quite the mysterious rarity that the Times and others first听made you out to be. Vagrant Mandarin Ducks听routinely pop up听around the country. There's an听established population in California. You aren't even a first for this city! So, sure,听you're exciting and novel,听but c'mon, it's us,听we can be real here.听Not to mention, your non-native garb听is听also showing up our听most beautiful native duck. Don't think doesn't mind. He does.听
Now that we got that out of the way, I also wanted to offer some advice:听. I know it's tempting and that the people providing those tasty morsels听are just trying to get听better looks, but they're empty calories. Stick to dabbling. I'll get off my soapbox 苍辞飞.听
Considering how popular you are, you probably have no idea that your appearance sparked some mixed reactions听in the birding听world, especially on听Twitter (it's a communication platform听where you can share these short messages听called tweets with your听followers and . . . nevermind). Reaction 1: A stunning听duck that most people have never seen before and never will again鈥斕齊eaction 2: An exotic species that's clearly an escapee, doesn't count for your life list,听and represents potential competition for endemics鈥.听
Both sides have their听points, and听this is why听for many New York City birders a rare stray bird native to North America appearing听here is a much bigger deal:听the kaleidoscopic听Painted Bunting that stopped by Prospect Park a few years back, the off-course听Kirtland's Warbler that shocked us听this spring, or even the surprise听 that was in Central Park at the same time as you last week. Doubt anyone has ever called that bird听hot.听
Don't let all this ruffle your iridescent feathers, though. You're just a听bird someone bred or bought trying to live your best duck life. And so I'm glad you decided to drop by NYC for a spell听and cause such a stir. You've not only gotten people outside and given pause to the New Yorkers who have never truly considered听the waterfowl in Central Park before, but you've also been a welcome distraction during听a trying time in this country, a dash of joy to a jaded lot. Birds are always good for that.听
So thanks again, and best of luck wherever you head next鈥攚hich will hopefully be soon, because I'm really tired of having people send me messages as if听I don't know about you yet.听
Warmest regards,听听
Andrew Del-Colle听
Site Director and Editor, 爆料公社.org听
P.S. I'm sorry I haven't visited.听I was lucky enough to see听one of your cousins听in Berlin听once, and I'm not ready to听 to see you, no matter how striking you are. Maybe when things settle down.听