Our nesting Mallard hen brought her family out of the weeds yesterday. She has a duckling of very unusual plumage. An Internet search produced illustrations of similar birds referred to as 'blonde' Mallards. The blonde bird has a light-colored bill touched with orange, and orange feet in addition to its golden plumage. One Internet site said this occurs once every 165,000 ducklings. How one gets such an exact number I'm not certain. I do believe the bird is highly unusual. The second photo shows two siblings of normal plumage. We often have ducklings out back, and as the seasons progress predation shrinks the number. I'd like to watch this bird as it grows. What I read, however, states the obvious -- this plumage makes the bird an easy target for predators.
Singing, ceremonies and straw hats: Olympics opening ceremony in Tahiti centers Polynesian culture
![Viva Froeming, left, touched the face of friend Virginia Goering as her twin sister Vera Sims looks on. The three ladies, all 101 years old, have been](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/ZRFTXJFYUVHBTFGD4UNQNYTEGI.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Three 101-year-old friends recall fond memories in 1940s Alexandria
Celine Dion makes musical comeback at Paris Olympics with Eiffel Tower serenade
![Former Gophers diver Sarah Bacon, right, will compete with Kassidy Cook in the women's 3-meter synchronized springboard competition at the Paris Olymp](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/N37HMV3KY5CYPB4SIMTKQVIH7M.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)