What's he so happy about?

Well, he and his mate have staked the first claim to the coveted duck house this season ...

There has been some competition between hooded merganser couples ...

He waits outside the box while his mate is busy inside ... hood up while she's in there, hood down when she rejoins him!

I was secretly hoping that Woodlene would move in, but she (and I) are still waiting for a mate to make an appearance.

Meanwhile, she stays nearby and has bonded with the geese.