Flocked versus territorial

Goose flock

Snapped this typical early October picture of a seasonal pond with a flock of big Canada Geese in foreground and Mallards in back. In my tour of Manitoba parkland habitat yesterday about one pond in every square mile had such a view; most ponds had zero ducks.

What a contrast to the nesting season when only one pair of geese and one pair of Mallards would be holding every pond like this as their territory.