They started off as blacks, when I lived on the east coast. I painted them up as mallards when I moved here to the midwest. I did end up repainting the mallard hen, back to a black duck. She was the first one I carved...and I gave her to a really good friend, and sold the rest.
I started to carve in late 2001, and finished these up in Oct or late Sept 2002. There is a LL. Bean corker in there...as well.