Feeding Duckies

We first visited the nature park in August. Back then there were cute little baby duckies. As we were walking toward the pond, we stopped and watched while one of the mommy ducks herded her little ones across the street. It was too cute. She reminded me of a school crossing guard. At that moment I knew I need to have a duck pond one day. More likely, I'll just dream about owning a duck pond. The ducks were so fun to watch and I felt a little attached to them.

Some of our baby ducks.

We visited them in October again, but it was harder to pick our baby ducks out from the rest. This time we brought bread to feed them. We quickly realized it was not nearly enough.

The first Sunday of Thanksgiving break we headed over to the duck pond with more bread. We figured the poor things got neglected when it was snowing outside. As Joshua, our friend Katie, and I approached the duck pond, they were nowhere in sight. We continued talking normally and then I started hollering to them. It was the neatest experience! The majority of the pond was frozen over with a thin layer of ice. The ducks were all on their little island thing across the ice from us. When they heard us they headed over, but they were swimming in a weaving line through water and the duck in front was breaking the ice for all the others. This huge line of ducks reached us and climbed out of the pond to swarm us. Again, we did not have enough bread. Those ducks would eat multiple loaves if we brought them. They were so close to us and were letting us pet them. They'd never gotten that close before! One duck in particular was hanging out by us and not even trying to steal the bread out of our hands. It followed us around. While all of the other ducks swam back across to their island thing, this duck stayed behind. He sat on the ground near us until we were leaving.

Shavonne and Katie petting our duck friend.

He tried following us home. If we had a place for him, he would have been invited. Notice all the duck prints on the ground. The snow was untouched when we got there.

Joshua and I went to feed the ducks again later in the week on Wednesday. This time they swam across most of the pond before having to climb up and walk on the ice to us. Again they swarmed us. I made enemies with a duck. Most of them were just friendly and wanting food, except for one; one of the ducks was mean, unfriendly and wanting food. We had a loaf of bread so you'd think there was plenty to go around, but this one duck kept coming right up to us. He would steal bread from the other ducks and nip at our knees the second we weren't paying special attention to him. I was getting really annoyed and would move away since they'll follow the food wherever we take it. He always worked his way to the front again though. We went again that Friday morning. Joshua knew I didn't like that specific duck and said he'd try to keep it away from me. That duck came right on up to me again the next day though. He kept right on nipping at my knee and stepping on my feet as I stood there and shook my finger at it and kept saying "no, no duck". At that point I realized I was being a little ridiculous. That duck wasn't going to listen to me. I still don't like him. But I do miss all the other ducks. They're nice ones and most of them will let us pet them now.

Hurrying to us.

Joshua with most of the ducks.