The Hardhead Duck Poem by Francis Duggan

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.