Saturday, March 19, 2011

Ducks

We did not get ducks in our flower bed this year. I was actually looking forward to seeing them but they must have decided our front door was too active. Oh well... We will still see the little duckies around because of where we live.

Speaking of which, there are duck families everywhere around here. Going up the main road from our neighborhood, I've been seeing a "husband" and "wife" crossing the road, back and forth, back and forth, all week. They must have their nest on one side of the road or the other. This is a busy 4-lane with a center turn lane road, and the speed limit is 40 mph. I've been quite concerned for them on the busy mornings that I've seen them navigating between the cars.

Luckily, people around here are great about giving them time to get out of the way. People who live down here expect to see ducks and geese on or near the road at any given time. I know that ducks mate for life, so it's always a relief when I see the two of them together. But, yesterday an incident happened that made me wonder if something had happened...

Daddy duck was standing in the middle of the southbound lanes (I was going north), looking like he was really confused and/or lost. Mama duck was nowhere to be seen. I immediately thought that maybe she had been hit (this was near the high school and teenagers may not be as careful as more experienced drivers) and I was afraid that he was also going to get hit. Drivers going both directions slowed to nearly a complete stop (in the middle of the intersection) to slowly go around the duck. In the meantime, Daddy duck was weaving from left to right and couldn't decide where he wanted to go. About the time I got through the intersection, he decided to go my direction - right in front of me. I came to a complete stop and then I lost him. I thought for sure that he was under my car and then I finally saw him exit the other side. Whew! That was close.

Not one driver honked with impatience at any of the other drivers who slowed down or stopped.

I hope I see both of them on Monday morning when I go back to work.

7 comments:

BB said...

Our place in Charleston had ducks everywhere and I mean big ducks. With families of upwards of 15 or 16 chicks. There was always some young idiot who drove too fast and left a mom or dad dead in the road. Used to make me sick. They are so adorable when they all walk in a row. Fun post.

Pat said...

That warms my heart to think that drivers would have the patience to wait for ducks to cross. I sure hope the female duck is okay.

Southhamsdarling said...

I agree with Pat, that is so nice that the drivers go carefully and drive around the ducks, and wait for them to cross the road. Oh, that poor daddy duck. I really do hope that you see them both together again on Monday :(

SkippyMom said...

This begs an update! Please as soon as you see them together get your behind back here and let us know she is okay, please, please, please.

Anonymous said...

That pleases me that people stopped for the ducks.

labbie1 said...

Our house was by the city lake and I always enjoyed the ducks and geese--especially when the day came that mamma brought her ducklings and gosselings out to swim! Wonderful!

I hope your mamma duck shows up!!!! I didn't realize that they mate for life...

Silver Strands said...

Oh I just LOVE this card!