by 
There I was stuck between a duck and a hard place, so to speak. When I moseyed up to the water garden to do some raking one day this week I saw a mallard hen enjoying herself there. The mallard pair had been there the evening before and even though the drake wasn’t around I assumed it was the hen of the pair that frequents our pond, especially since she didn’t seem disturbed by my presence. Shortly, though, the mallard pair showed up and the drake sent the first hen packing. She flew over the fence to the area on the south just outside the enclosure and stood their awhile apparently considering her options. After a while she walked around to the north side of the enclosure and flew from there back into the pond. Again the drake sent her packing and again she flew over the fence to the south side of the enclosure where I’d left the chili wagon. It’s fun to have wild ducks visit the pond so I try not spook them when I’m in the area. However, I’d finished raking in the enclosure and needed to go to another area, which meant I needed to pass where the new duck was. I finally did and she moved out of my way without taking flight. Later she departed, no doubt having decided she wasn’t going to be able to enjoy the pond as long as the other ducks were around. Maybe she’ll be back when they are not. There must be people around where she normally visits since she had so little fear of me. Continue reading “Duck politics”
