The Hardhead Duck

The hardhead or white eyed duck of humankind shy At any sign of danger they take to the sky And few species of wild duck as fast as they do can fly To a safer place a lake or a river nearby The female and male brown but the male with white eyes and some white on his bill They dive for their food with great natural skill From where people are they keep safe distance away These birds I see often though not every day They nest in swamp vegetation or above water in cavity of standing stump or tree And their eggs few people have been privileged to see Nine to thirteen creamy white eggs the female does lay I quote here from what those who know of them do say Of humankind they do show a healthy fear And they quickly take to flight if they sense danger near.